OKAY IT IS ABOUT 9 40. SO WE ARE
GOING TO BEGIN. THE JOINT
INFORMATIONAL HEARING FOR THE
COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS AND
WILDLIFE AND THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON NATIVE AMERICAN
AFFAIRS. WE'LL DO SOME
HOUSEKEEPING AND THEN
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ALMOST OPEN US
SO TO ENSURE MEMBERS OF THE
MEDIA AND PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO
THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY, THE
HEARING WILL BE STREAMED ON THE
ASSEMBLY'S WEBSITE AND MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC CAN PROVIDE
TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE AND WE
ARE IN THE CAPITAL SWING SPACE
ROOM 1100 OR VIA TELEPHONE. A
COPY OF THE AGENDA AND
BACKGROUND MATERIALS ARE
AVAILABLE ON BOTH COMMITTEES,
WEBSITES. WILL BE USING A
MODERATED TELEPHONE SERVICE
THROUGH WHICH ANYONE CAN PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THE
AGENDA. THE CALLING NUMBER FOR
THE HEARING IS 877692. AND THE
ACCESS CODE IS 1 85 01100, AND
THAT NUMBER IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON
THE COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE. AND
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ALMOST OPEN US.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THAT RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE
TO DO, UM, LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF THE TRIBAL PEOPLES WHOSE
LANDS THAT WERE ON WITH ME WHAT
NISSINEN AND CAROLINE FROM
ACROSS THE SACRAMENTO RIVER. I
WANT TO GIVE THEM HONOR FOR
BEING HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
THESE INDIAN ISSUES. OH, AND
THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY. MEMBER
CHAIR REBECCA BAUER-KAHAN. SHE
CHAIRS THIS COMMITTEE, UM, WATER
PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE,
BUT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER ON
MANY NATIVE AMERICAN ISSUES
DEALING WITH MISSING AND
MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN TO
ALSO, UM, COLONIZATION WITH S P
R A B 338, AND WE WORKED
TOGETHER ON A LOT OF TRIBAL
ISSUES AND SOMEONE THANK YOU FOR
HAVING THIS JOINT. UH, COMMITTEE
HEARING WITH US. I JUST WANT TO
THANK UM ALL THE TRIBAL LEADERS
THAT ARE HERE IN TRAVEL CHAIRS
THAT ARE HERE GIVING OF THEIR
TIME. WATER IS THE ESSENTIAL, UM
, IS ESSENTIAL TO THE NATIVE
AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE. IT ALSO
PLAYS A SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL
ROLE IN OUR LIVES. WE ARE TAUGHT
THAT WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROTECT THE WATER BECAUSE WATER
PROVIDES FOR FOOD, CULTURAL
CEREMONIES AND SUSTAINABILITY OF
OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. PERSONAL
STORY GROWING UP ON THE SALMON,
WELL, INDIAN RESERVATION. WE
WERE TIE INTO OUR SPRINGS AND
DRINK THE SPRING WATER FOR MANY
YEARS. AND IT WASN'T UNTIL MY
GRANDMOTHER MARTHA MANUAL
CHIKANE, WE CALL HER MY TOOT. UM
AS ONE OF THE DOCTORS TO COME UP
AND TEST THE WATER, AND IT'S
THEN THAT WE FOUND THAT THERE
WAS SOME CONTAMINANTS IN IT. SO
WE MOVED FORWARD AND BEGIN
WORKING WITH THE LOCAL WATER
DISTRICT. BUT THIS IS STUFF
THAT'S STILL GOING ON TODAY. AS
YOU'LL HEAR SOME OF THE TRIBAL
LEADERS ATTEST TO AND AS
CALIFORNIA WAS COLONIZED AND
SETTLERS MOVED WEST, THE ABILITY
TO CARRY OUT THE RESPONSIBILITY
TO PRACTICE THE TRADITIONAL
STEWARDSHIP. OF THE SACRED
ELEMENTS OF WATER AND FOOD AND
THE CEREMONIES THAT IT UM LEADS
TO BECAME MORE AND MORE
DIFFICULT. TRIBAL COMMUNITIES,
ABILITY TO ACCESS WATER AND
EXERCISE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
PROTECTION OF THEIR WATER. IS
ENTANGLED IN FEDERAL, STATE AND
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. AS WE SAW
AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.
INADEQUATE WATER SUPPLIES HAVE
ALSO AFFECTED BASIC HEALTH AND
SAFETY NEEDS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. AND THAT IS NO
DIFFERENT IN INDIAN COUNTRY
WHERE WATER IS STILL BEING
DEBATED, UM DIFFERENT ISSUES,
DIFFERENT ROADBLOCKS. SO WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THE BASIC HEALTH AND
SAFETY NEEDS DURING THE PANDEMIC
, THAT'S NOT FORGET THAT ARE
INDIAN COMMUNITIES ALSO SUFFER,
UM FROM THAT BASIC NEED. TODAY
WE WILL HEAR FROM VARIOUS TRIBES
AROUND THE STATE. AS WELL AS
FEDERAL AND STATE WATER
OFFICIALS TO LEARN ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES AND ENSURING ACCESS
TO AND PROTECTION OF
CALIFORNIA'S WATER RESOURCES.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALSO AFFECTING
THE ABILITY TO PRACTICE NATIVE
AMERICAN. UM CEREMONIES, UM,
STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES. JUST LAST
WEEKEND IN THE NEWS NEWS
ACCOUNTS REPORTED STORIES ABOUT
HOW THE MCKINNEY FIRE HAS LED TO
MASS FISH DEATHS IN THE KLAMATH
RIVER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
THE KARAOKE. TRY LOCATED IN
SISKIYOU COUNTY, TOTAL THOUSANDS
OF DEAD SALMON TROUT AND
SACRIFICIAL FLOATING IN THE
KLAMATH RIVER. THE FIFTH JESS
ARE BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY
BURNS, SOIL, ROCKS AND TIMBER
AND ROCKS IN THE WATER AND
DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVELS. BY
HAVING THIS HEARING HERE TODAY
AND OTHERS IN THE FUTURE. THE
STATE HAS BEGUN TO BE OPEN TO
PRACTICES THAT NATIVE AMERICANS
USE TO PROTECT THEIR FORESTS.
RIVER AND OTHER NATURAL
RESOURCES. BUT WE NEED TO ACT
WITH MUCH MORE URGENCY TO
PROTECT THESE TREASURES OF OUR
STATE. OUR STATE. THAT. THE
FIRST PEOPLE OF THE STATE, THEIR
RIGHTS STILL NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED AND TO BE HEARD, AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS HEARING IS
ABOUT HERE TODAY. SO WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD AS A
STATE, LET'S REMEMBER THE VOICE
OF CALIFORNIA'S FIRST PEOPLE AND
HOW WATER IS BEING AFFECTED IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THROUGHOUT
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE'LL
HEAR FROM DIFFERENT TRIBAL
CHAIRS HERE TODAY ON DIFFERENT
AREAS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN, BUT HOW IT
ALL TIES TO THE IMPORTANCE OF
WATER. WELL HERE'S HISTORICALLY
OF HOW TRIBES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED
BY WATER. WE'LL HEAR ABOUT
ONGOING, UM, DEBATES WITH WATER
AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, BUT
WE'LL ALSO HEAR ABOUT HOW WE CAN
MOVE FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT SOME
ROADBLOCKS THAT ARE THERE COULD
BE, UM CHALLENGED AND MOVED
FORWARD AS FAR AS STREAMLINING
THOSE FOR THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
THAT COULD LEAD TO POSSIBLE
LEGISLATION. SO I WANT TO THANK
ALL THE TRIBAL CHAIRS THAT ARE
HERE TODAY THAT ARE GOING TO BE
SPEAKING AND TRIBAL LEADERS AND
ALSO THOSE THAT WILL BE WATCHING
, UM, ON THE CAMERAS BECAUSE WE
ARE RECORDING THIS AND
BROADCASTING IT OUT. FOR
GENEROUSLY OF SHARING OF YOUR
TIME AND KNOWLEDGE WITH US, IT
IS TRULY APPRECIATE IT FOR YOU
TO COME FORWARD TO SHARE ON
THESE AREAS. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. AND. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YES, THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS AND
I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU
FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. UM YOUR
ONGOING PARTNERSHIP ON NATIVE
AMERICAN, UM CONCERNS AND
ENSURING THAT THE VOICE OF OUR
FIRST PEOPLE IS SO WELL
REPRESENTED IN THE LEGISLATURE
AND THAT ALL OF US ARE HERE TO
PARTNER WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE
OUR FIRST PEOPLE ARE HEARD
REPRESENTED AND THAT WE ADDRESS
SOME OF THESE ONGOING CONCERNS.
UM I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR
TRIBAL LEADERS AND CHAIRS WHO
ARE HERE TODAY? UM AND THE
REPRESENTATIVES WHO WILL BE HERE
FROM BOTH STATE AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO TALK ABOUT THESE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUES. UH,
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I AM
EXCITED ABOUT TO HEAR FROM ALL
OF YOU TODAY TO LEARN MORE AND
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING
EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER TO
SUPPORT. UM THE TRIBAL NATIONS
IN WHAT THEY NEED IS A RELATES
TO CLEAN WATER. AS WE ALL KNOW,
DROUGHT IS TOP OF MIND FOR EVERY
CALIFORNIAN AND FOR EVERY PERSON
WATER IS SO PRECIOUS. IT'S
ESSENTIAL AND WE KNOW THAT ONE
CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT. AND
ALTHOUGH WATER SCARCITY THAT
ACCOMPANIES DROUGHT MAY SEEM
TEMPORARY FOR CALIFORNIA'S
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. WATER
SCARCITY IS AN ONGOING LEGACY OF
CONQUEST AND COLONIZATION. WHEN
TRIBES WERE DISPOSSESSED OF
THEIR LAND. THEY ALSO LOST
ACCESS TO CRITICAL WATER. IN
MANY CASES, SOME PROGRESS HAS
BEEN MADE IN REINSTATING THOSE
WATER RIGHTS TO TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA, BUT
IT IS CLEAR EVEN BEFORE WE BEGIN
THIS HEARING THAT MUCH MORE
NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO I'M AS I
SAID, I'M HERE TO LISTEN AND TO
LEARN AS ARE SO MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE TO LISTEN TO THE
LEADERS WHO WILL SHARE WITH US
TODAY AND NO, THAT COMING OUT OF
THIS HEARING WHAT WE LOOK
FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO TAKE
ACTION AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO
HELP TRIBAL COMMUNITIES GAIN
ACCESS TO THE WATER. THAT IS
THOSE COMMUNITIES THE RIGHT OF
THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THAT IS
NEEDED TO SUSTAIN HEALTH
LIVELIHOOD, AND AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ALMOST SO APTLY
PUT IT, THE CULTURE THAT WATER
IS SO CRITICAL TO SO WITH THAT
I'D LOVE TO SEE IF ANY OF OUR
OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE SOME
OPENING REMARKS, MR BENNETT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, CHAIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RAMOS AND THE
CHAIR A SIMILAR MEMBER BAR KATE
BAUER-KAHAN FOR PULLING THIS
TOGETHER, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY
ONE THING, AND THAT IS THE MORE
WE UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF HOW
WE ARE WHERE WE ARE THE FAR
BETTER. WE UNDERSTAND THE
CURRENT SITUATION AND WE HAVE TO
MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE CURRENT
SITUATION OF WATER AND
CALIFORNIA AND TRIBES. AND ALL
THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS OUT
THERE, AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
GET BETTER EDUCATED. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. MATHIS. THANK YOU.
CHAIRMAN RAMOS UM AGAIN. NOT
JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS HEARING
, BUT THE ONGOING PARTNERSHIP
YOU AND I HAVE HAD OF BRINGING
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NATIVE
AMERICAN AFFAIRS FORWARD. ON
SOME OF THE WORK THAT EVEN
CHAIRMAN GARCIA, UM WHEN WE
FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT
BRINGING THIS TOGETHER AND
CHAIRMAN BECKER CON FOR ALLOWING
TO JOIN WITH US AS WELL. YOU
KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY
OF WATER IN THE STATE IN THE
HISTORY OF WATER FOR NATIVE
AMERICAN AFFAIRS, I MEAN, THIS
IS YOU ALL ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE
AND THESE WATER RIGHTS ARE YOURS
AND THERE HAVE BEEN HISTORICAL
WRONGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE. AND
SOVEREIGNTY THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY.
AND I HOPE WE CAN UNCOVER SOME
OF THAT. SO WE AS A STEAK AND
BETTER RIGHT THOSE WRONGS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
THE RIGHT TO THE WATER TO HOW IT
AFFECTS. THE HERITAGE AND THE
CULTURE OF OUR TRIBES OF THOSE
POPULATIONS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES
AND HOW, AS STATE LEGISLATORS,
WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB. TO
ENSURE WE'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT
FOR THEM. AND THE COMMUNITIES
INTO BRIDGE THAT PARTNERSHIP.
AMONGST THE TRIBES AND THE OTHER
COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COOPER.
I WANT TO THINK THE CHAIRS FOR
CONVENING THIS MEETING IS IT'S
SO IMPORTANT, OBVIOUSLY, WITH
CALIFORNIA'S FIRST PEOPLE ARE
ARE NATIVE AMERICANS, UM,
WATERS, CALIFORNIA'S LIFE BLOOD
AND THE STATE IS NOT DONE A GOOD
JOB IN MANAGING WATER. THAT'S
REALLY BEEN A BIG ISSUE THIS
WHOLE TIME. CALIFORNIA'S GOT A
POPULATION OF 40 MILLION PEOPLE.
IT'S DOUBLED. AH IN THE PAST,
SINCE 1979 HAVE NOT BUILT NOT
ONE NEW DAM OR RESERVOIR, SO THE
STATE HAS A LOT OF
RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT, AND FOR
OUR NATIVE AMERICAN, FOLKS, UM
ITS LIFEBLOOD. WATER IS SO
IMPORTANT ON SO MANY DIFFERENT
LEVELS, AND, UH I WANT TO THANK
THE CHAIRS FOR BEING THIS UP SO
WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW THE
DISCUSSION AND HOW DO WE GO
FORWARD? UM THERE ARE SEVERAL
DAMS APPROVED BEFORE I CAME INTO
14 AND NOT ONE HAS BEEN BUILT
YET. SO THAT'S THE ISSUE. IT'S
JUST IT'S A SLOW, STEADY PACE
AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE TRIBAL
CHAIRS COMING HERE AND TALKING
TODAY THAT WILL LEND CREDENCE
AND PUSH THAT VOICE FORWARD MORE
TO GET IT DONE AND RESOLVED TO
BUILD OUR WATER ISSUES.
OTHERWISE IT KEEPS GETTING PUT
ON THE BACK BURNER BECAUSE A LOT
OF FOLKS ARE MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT WHAT THE UM E J COMMUNITY
THINKS AND WHAT THEY WANT. AND
OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE
YOU OR ME REPRESENT TRIBAL
INTERESTS THIS WEEK HAVING THOSE
IN DEPTH DISCUSSION TO TALK
ABOUT IT, AND HOW DO WE CHANGE
THE NARRATIVE AND MAKE IT BETTER
FOR THE TRIBES AND EVERYONE HERE
IN CALIFORNIA. SO THANK YOU FOR
COMING. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
YOUR COMMENTS. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS. WELL THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. COMMITTEE MEMBERS WITH THIS
JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING, SO WE
HAVE DIFFERENT PANELS SERIES OF
PANELS AND, UM, WE'LL BE
SWITCHING OFF THE INTRODUCTIONS
AND READING THE BIO SOMETHING
FROM MYSELF AND CHAIR. UM
REBECCA ABOUT BAUER-KAHAN, THE
FIRST PANEL THAT WE'RE GOING TO
BE BRINGING UP IS THE HISTORY OF
WATER AND THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN WATER IN HUMANKIND. THE
PANEL WILL CONSIST OF A CHAIRMAN
MICHAEL HUNTER FROM COYOTE
VALLEY. CHAIRMAN ISAIAH IVANKO
FROM SOME BOBA AND WE'LL ALSO
HAVE THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY. UM. DARRELL MIKE, BUT HE'LL HAVE
SARAH BLISS WILL READ HIS
STATEMENT. SO THOSE PRESENTERS
THAT ARE PRESENT YOU CAN MAKE
YOUR WAY UP TO THE DIOCESE. AND
I'LL START READING THE BIOS.
MICHAEL HUNTER'S CHAIRMAN OF
COYOTE VALUE, POMO INDIANS WILL
HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF
ADVOCACY ON THESE ISSUES FOR
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES. CHAIRMAN HUNTER IS
THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE
COYOTE VALUE POMO INDIANS. HE
ALSO SERVES AS A VICE CHAIRMAN
OF THE CALIFORNIA TRIBAL
CHAIRPERSONS ASSOCIATION, AS
WELL AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA TRIBAL
CHAIRPERSONS ASSOCIATION. HIS
EXPERIENCE HAS PROVIDED HIM
INSIGHT INTO THE COMMON
OPERATIONAL DEFICIENCIES
AFFECTING TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND
THE SKILLS TO IMPLEMENT REMEDIES
TO BENEFIT THE TRIBE'S CHAIRMAN
. HUNTER IS COMMITTED TO TRIBAL
, CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH FOR THE SEVEN GENERATIONS
OF ALL TRIBES. CHAIRMAN HUNTER
WILL BE OUR FIRST SPEAKER. GOOD
MORNING. LITTLE NERVOUS TODAY.
OH, AH, THIS IS SO COOL. I WAS
THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO SEE HOW
I COULD GET YOU ENGAGED IN OUR
STORY. AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF MY TRIBE, AND IT'S
PERFECT FOR THIS TOPIC. WATER.
AND THE EARLY 19 FIFTIES 19
FIFTIES. NOT THAT LONG AGO,
RIGHT? THE MENDOCINO COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND SONOMA
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
STARTED TO COLLABORATE TO BUILD
A DAM THAT'S CALLED LAKE
MENDOCINO NOW. IN 1957, UNITED
STATES, ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
TERMINATED THE COYOTE VALLEY
BAND OF POMO INDIAN, BECAUSE OUR
LAND WAS WHERE THEY WANTED TO
BUILD THAT LAKE. THAT'S WHERE MY
MOTHER WAS RAISED. 1957 RIGHT. I
HAD HER UNCLES. MY GREAT UNCLE'S
MY MENTORS, MY NATIVE AMERICAN
ELDERS. THEY WENT OFF TO WAR.
CAME BACK AS VETERANS SOON AFTER
TO EVICT THEIR OWN MOTHER FROM
THEIR LAND. I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF
WHACK, AND I WAS LIKE, MAN,
THAT'S IT'S HURTFUL. IT'S HARD
TO TELL THAT STORY, SO I TRY TO
GET CREATIVE ON IT. SO I DON'T
BREAK DOWN IN TEARS BECAUSE HOW
WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR MOTHER
WAS THE ONE BEING REMOVED FROM
HER RESERVATION? IT TURNS OUT WE
HAD ALL THE WATER. WE HAD THE
MAIN WATER SOURCE. RUSSIAN RIVER
COMING THROUGH OUR RESERVATION,
AND THEY DID NOT WANT US THERE.
SO IN 1976. THE CALIFORNIA
NORTHERN DISTRICT RULED IN OUR
FAVOR AND SAID THAT THE COUNTY
VALLEY BAND OF POMO INDIANS WAS
WRONGFULLY TERMINATED. NOT JUST
DID THEY WANT OUR LAND. THEY
WANTED US TO NOT BE INDIAN
DIDN'T JUST WANT THE LAND. THEY
TRY TO TERMINATE US AS PEOPLE AS
POMO PEOPLE. 76 I WAS BORN IN
1974. SO FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS
OF MY LIFE, THIS COUNTRY DID NOT
THINK I WAS NATIVE AMERICAN.
THAT'S KIND OF WEIRD. IT'S A
UNIQUE, CALM PERSPECTIVE TO BE
ABLE TO SAY THE FIRST TWO YEARS
A YEAR LIFE THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT DID NOT RECOGNIZE ME
AS A NATIVE AMERICAN BECAUSE MY
TRIBE WAS TERMINATED. BUT THEN
WE WERE REINSTATED. SO NOW WE'RE
NATIVE AMERICAN AGAIN AND WE
BOUGHT SOME LAND BY THE
AGRICULTURAL GRANT. AND WE'RE
THRIVING. WE'RE COMING BACK. WE
ARE MENDOCINE Ó COUNTY. AND IN
THE EARLY PROBABLY 88 MID
EIGHTIES. ALLOWED US TO BUILD.
GET 30 M FOR WATER. AND WE BUILT
30 HOMES ON THERE. AND IT WASN'T
TILL ABOUT 30 YEARS LATER, LIKE
JUST RECENTLY, WE BUILT ANOTHER
30 HOMES. AND WE HAD TO FIGHT
TOOTH AND NAIL TO GET WATER. FOR
OUR RESIDENTS. WHEN WE HAD THE
MAIN SOURCE OF WATER COMING
THROUGH TO THAT COUNTY TO THAT
CITY. SO IT KIND OF IRONY LIKE
THE SENIOR WATER RIGHTS, THE
TRIBES OR THE LOWEST AND NOW BUT
THE DAMS ON MY OLD RESERVATION.
AND THE PEOPLE IN POWER DON'T
HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS THEIR
GRANDPARENTS THAT DID THIS, SO I
UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T SELF
REFLECT TOO FAR BACK. BUT WE
TALKED ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE
FORWARD? I THINK THE POLICY
SERIOUS AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT IT IS, BUT WE HAVE TO
FIGURE IT OUT. WHAT MAKES TRIBES
THE SENIOR IN ALL WATER RIGHTS
THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THESE
SMALL COUNTIES. BECAUSE IN 10
YEARS IF WE DON'T FIGURE OUT HOW
TO GET THE TRIBES TO BECOME THE
SENIOR THEY WILL BE THE FIRST
ONES TO LOSE BECAUSE THEY WERE
THE LAST ONES TO GET IT, AND
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS IN THEIR
DOCUMENTS AS WELL, YOU'RE THE
LAST ONE TO GET IT. YOU GET CUT
OFF FIRST. SO IF WE HAVE TO COME
BACK IN 10 YEARS, IT'S GONNA BE
A LOT HARDER NEGOTIATING BECAUSE
THE DROUGHT LIKE YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT IT'S GETTING
WORSE. IT'S NOT GETTING BETTER.
SO IF WE CONTINUE THIS DROUGHT,
THE FIGHT FOR WATER IS GOING TO
GET HARDER AND HARDER AND HARDER
AND IT'S GOING TO BECOME A
LITTLE BIT MORE LEGAL. AND WE
HAVE TO GET AHEAD OF IT FOR
THEIR TRIBES. WE HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT HOW DO WE IN LAW FORCED TO
COUNTIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
TRIBES HAVE SENIOR RIGHTS TO THE
WATER, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS
BUILT ON THE RESERVATION? I HOPE
I DID A GOOD JOB WAS THAT
CHAIRMAN? I FELT GOOD ABOUT
THAT. I FELT LIKE I WAS ENGAGED
TO. I HAD SCHMIDT OVER HERE.
WE'RE WORKING IN, HUH? ALRIGHT
BUT I FELT GOOD ABOUT THAT. I
WANTED TO TELL YOU MY STORY AND
I WANTED TO DO IT IN A GOOD WAY
BECAUSE I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THE
THINGS YOU SAY 20 YEARS AGO WHEN
I WAS ON COUNCIL IS DIFFERENT
WORDS. THE PEOPLE I SEE IN FRONT
OF ME ARE KINDER, MORE
EMPATHETIC, AND I APPRECIATE
YOUR WORDS. SO WHEN YOU'RE
SAYING I'M LISTENING, AND I
APPRECIATE HIM, SO DON'T THINK
THEY'LL GO ON HEARD. SO I
APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, CHAIRMAN AND YOU WERE
ELOQUENT IN YOUR DISCUSSION AND
YOUR DESCRIPTION OF BEING
REMOVED FROM THE LAND THAT WATER
COULD BE TAKEN, BUT ULTIMATELY
COMING BACK, BUT NOW IT'S THE
WATER IS GIVEN TO OTHERS BEFORE
THE TRIBE IS EVEN CONSIDERED, SO
THAT DOES RESONATE. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER WILL BE CHAIRMAN ISAIAH
IVANKO FROM THE PSA BOBA. BAND
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN OF
IVANKA WILL ADDRESS WATER ISSUES
RELATED TO THE SUBURBAN TRIBAL
COMMUNITY. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE
SUBURBAN BAND TRIBAL GOVERNMENT,
AND IT'S PROBABLY SERVING HIS
SECOND CONSECUTIVE TERM AS
CHAIRMAN AND HAS COMPLETED SEVEN
TERMS IN TOTAL ON SUBHAS TRIBAL
COUNCIL. CHAIRMAN OF IVANKO
DILIGENTLY WORKS TO DELIVER
STRONG LEADERSHIP OR HIS TRIBE,
AND HE'S HERE TO SHARE SOME OF
THE HISTORY OF WATER AND HOW IT
PERTAINS TO THE PEOPLE ON THE
PSA BOBA INDIAN RESERVATION.
CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. ARE MORE
HONORABLE CHAIRS. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE
HONOR. UH OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
WITH YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS
ISAIAH PIVONKA. I HAVE THE HONOR
OF SERVING AS CHAIRMAN FOR THE
SLEEPOVER BANDITS. LOOSEN YOUR
INDIANS. I AM HERE BEFORE YOU
TODAY TO DISCUSS THE NEGATIVE
IMPACTS OF WATER LOSS OR PEOPLE
HAVE EXPERIENCED WE ARE A TRIBE
OF 1550 TRAVEL CITIZENS LOCATED
ALONG THE FOOTHILLS OF THE
SENTENCE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN
RIVERSIDE COUNTY. FROM TIME
IMMEMORIAL. WE HAVE LIVED ON
THEIR TRADITIONAL HOMELANDS AND
A COMPLEX HUNTER GATHERER
SOCIETY AND PRACTICE TRADITIONAL
HORTICULTURE. DURING BOTH THE
SPANISH AND MEXICAN AREAS. WE
WERE RECOGNIZED AS AN
ESTABLISHED INDIAN COMMUNITY AND
LIVED AS FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
WE UTILIZED OUR VAST WATER
SURFACE WATER RESOURCES FROM THE
SENTENCE IN THE RIVER AND TWO
TRIBUTARY STREAMS AT POP IT IN
THE INDIAN CREEKS. THERE WERE
MORE THAN 40 PERENNIAL SPRINGS,
LOCATED ON THE RESERVATION AND
SURFACE WATER RESOURCES WERE
PRESENT EVEN IN THE SUMMER
MONTHS. SUBURBIA. INDIAN
RESERVATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN
18 83 BY EXECUTIVE ORDER OF
PRESIDENT CHESTER ARTHUR. FROM
18 65 TO 18 91 SETTLERS DIVERTED
UPSTREAM PORTIONS OF THE
SENTENCE. TOTAL RIVER AND ITS
MAJOR TRIBUTARIES ELIMINATED
NEARLY ALL THE SURFACE WATER
FLOW THAT HAD PASSED THROUGH OUR
LANDS. THIS CAUSED THE TRIBES
GRAVITY FLOW IRRIGATION SYSTEM
TO BECOME USELESS AND BY 18 99.
MY ANCESTORS WERE FACED WITH
STARVATION. IN 19 OH, NINE IN AN
ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE TRIBES
DIRE SITUATION IN THE UNITED
STATES CONSTRUCTED A WEALTH
SYSTEM ON THE RESERVATION, UING
ONE OF TWO UNDERGROUND AQUIFERS.
BUT BY THE BY THE EARLY 19
THIRTIES, THE RESERVATION WATER
TABLE HAD BEEN DRAWN DOWN
SUBSTANTIALLY BY UPSTREAM
DIVERSIONS AND INTENSIVE
WITHDRAWALS OF GROUNDWATER BY
NON INDIANS IN THE SENTENCE IN
THE VALLEY. IN 1933 METROPOLITAN
WATER DISTRICT BEGAN
CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUNNEL
THROUGH THE SENTENCE IN THE
MOUNTAINS AS PART OF AN EFFORT
TO DELIVER WATER FROM THE
COLORADO RIVER TO THE GROWING
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA. THE
TUNNEL IS 13 MILES LONG AND
PASSESJUST NORTH OF THE
RESERVATION BOUNDARIES AND AT AN
ELEVATION SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER
THAN OUR RESERVATION. THERE WERE
14 GEOLOGICAL FAULTS IN THE
PORTION OF THE SENTENCE IN THE
MOUNTAINS THAT WERE TRAVERSED BY
THE TUNNEL. BEDROCK IN THE
MOUNTAINS ACTED AS AN
UNDERGROUND DAM HOLDING BACK
WATER THAT HAD BEEN LONG STORED
INSIDE. WHEN THE TUNNEL WAS
DRILLED. THESE NATURAL DAMS WERE
DESTROYED. AS A RESULT OF THE
CONSTRUCTION, NEARLY ALL OF THE
40 PERENNIAL SPRINGS ON THE
SUBURBAN RESERVATION CEASED TO
FLOW WAS EVEN MORE HARDSHIP AS
WATER SOURCES BECAME ALMOST NON
EXISTENT. IN 1950. THE TRIAL
BEGAN LITIGATION WITH THE INDIAN
CLAIMS COMMISSION AGAINST THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR
FAILURE TO PUT TO PROTECT THE
RESERVATION'S WATER RESOURCES.
THIS STARTED WHAT WOULD BE
NEARLY 60 YEAR BATTLE FOR WATER
RIGHTS? IN 1976, THE INDIAN
CLAIMS COMMISSION FOUND THE
UNITED STATES LIABLE, LEAVING
THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGES TO BE
DETERMINED BY SUBSEQUENT
PROCEEDINGS. IN 1991 AFTER 15
YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS, THE TRIBE
IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
REACHED A COMPROMISE AGREEMENT
FOR THEIR FAILURE TO PROTECT OUR
WATER RESOURCES. THIS WAS A WIN
FOR THE TRIBE, BUT STILL DO NOT
QUANTIFY ANY RIGHTS TO THE WATER
BENEATH OUR RESERVATION. IN 1991
, THE TRIBE AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTED TO
NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT OF THE
TRIBE'S WATER RIGHTS WITH THE
TWO PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF
COMPETING CLAIMS IN THE SANTA
SNOW VALLEY, EASTERN AND LAKE
CAME AT MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICTS. METROPOLITAN WATER
DISTRICT, THE THIRD ENTITY
PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
DEPLETION OF THE TRIBE'S WATER
RESOURCES, WAS NOT DIRECTLY
INVOLVED IN THESE SETTLEMENT
NEGOTIATIONS DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE
IT HELD NO WATER RIGHTS IN THE
VALLEY. IN LATE 1991. WHAT
SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS WITH
EASTERN AND LAKE HIM AND MAKING
LITTLE PROGRESS. THE TRIBE
INVITED DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS WITH
METROPOLITAN WITH RESPECT TO THE
TUNNEL DRAINAGE IN HOPES THAT
RESOLVING THIS ISSUE WOULD
FACILITATE A SOLUTION TO THE
TRIBES CLAIM AGAINST THE OTHER
TWO DISTRICTS. METROPOLITAN
WATER DISTRICT WOULD DECLINE THE
INVITATION. ON APRIL 20TH 2000.
THE TRIBE FILED SUIT AGAINST
METROPOLITAN FOR DAMAGES CAUSED
BY CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUNNEL.
METROPOLITAN IN TURN THROUGH
EASTERN AND LAKE HEMET
DISTRICTS. IN THE FALL OF 2000
TO ALL PARTIES CAME TO AN
AGREEMENT ON BASIC FRAMEWORK OF
AN ACCEPTABLE RESOLUTION OF ALL
THE TRIBES WATER RELATED CLAIMS.
THE LAWSUITS WERE PUT ON HOLD TO
ALLOW ALL INVOLVED TO WORK OUT
FINAL TERMS OF A SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT. FINALLY IN 2008 AFTER
OVER 60 YEARS OF NEGOTIATING,
CONGRESS PASSED THE SELECTIVE
ABANDONED CASINO INDIAN
SETTLEMENT ACT PUBLIC LAW 1 10
THAT'S 297. TO APPROVE AND
RATIFY THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
TODAY. BECAUSE OF OVER 60 YEARS
OF LITIGATION AND NEGOTIATIONS,
THE TRIBE HAS THE RIGHT TO 9000
ACRE FEET OF WATER PER YEAR.
THIS PROVIDES ASSURANCES THAT
ARE NEARLY 300 HOUSEHOLDS WILL
HAVE THE WATER WE NEED NOT ONLY
NOW, BUT FOR THE YEARS TO COME.
THIS ALLOWS FOR THE TRIBE TO
ONCE AGAIN. PROSPER WAS NOT ONLY
AGRICULTURE BUT OTHER MEANS OF
ECONOMIC DIVERSITY. ALLOWS FOR A
MEMBERS ONCE PUSHED FROM THEIR
HOMELANDS BECAUSE OF LACK OF
AVAILABLE WATER TO RETURN AND
FLOURISHED AS A COMMUNITY ONCE
AGAIN. WE OPERATE AND MAINTAIN
FIVE WELLS THAT FEED OVER FOUR
MILLION GALLONS OF ABOVEGROUND
STORAGE THAT WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED
OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. THIS
HELPS TO MEET OUR RESIDENTIAL
AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS. FINAL ACT
OF CONGRESS ESTABLISHED THE
FRAMEWORK FOR A WATER ASTER
BOARD THAT MONITORS THE LEVEL OF
THE AQUIFER IS TO ENSURE THE
TRIBE'S ABILITY TO DRAW ITS
RIGHTFUL ALLOTMENT. IT MANAGES
THE INTAKE AS WELL AS EXTRACTION
. WHEN LEVELS ARE LOW, THE WATER
DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO IMPORT
WATER INTO THE BASIN TO ENSURE
OUR NEEDS ARE MET. THE BOARD
COMPRISED OF DELEGATES FROM THE
TRIBE, EASTERN AND LAKE CAME IN
WATER DISTRICTS, AS WELL AS FROM
TWO LOCAL CITIES. SENTENCING ON
HIM. IT WORKED TOGETHER TO
PROTECT OUR WATER STORAGE, A WIN
NOT ONLY FOR THE TRIBE BUT ALSO
FOR THE VALUE THAT WE SHARE. I'D
LIKE TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SHARE WITH YOU
OUR STORY THE EFFECTS OF WATER,
AND IT'S LOST ON THIS MOBI
INDIAN RESERVATION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN AND THANK
YOU FOR THAT. ENLIGHTENING. UM
HISTORY ON WATER THERE WITHIN
THE SAVELLA TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
TOOK OVER 60 YEARS OF LITIGATION
THAT ULTIMATELY TOOK AN ACT OF
CONGRESS TO RESTORE NOT
COMPLETELY RESTORE, BUT TO GIVE
SOME TYPE OF WATER. UM, SHARES
BACK INTO THE TRIBE. THANK YOU
FOR THAT. UM OUR NEXT SPEAKER,
CHAIRMAN DARRELL MIKE HAS
SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO READ A
STATEMENT FROM HIM. I KNOW
THEY'RE GOING TO JOIN US THROUGH
OUR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT
HERE. UM OKAY? CHAIRMAN MIKE HAS
SERVED MANY YEARS ON TRIBAL
COUNCIL. HE WAS ELECTED TO THE
1ST 10 YEARS TRIBAL CHAIRMAN
2007 AND IS SERVING CONSECUTIVE
TERMS. HE ALSO PARTICIPATES IN
OUTREACH EFFORTS WITH THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZES
CHARITABLE EVENTS THROUGH
AFFILIATED ENTITIES SUCH AS THE
FOUR WINDS COALITION, NATIVE
AMERICAN LANDS CONSERVANCY AND
THE TERESA, A MIC SCHOLARSHIP
FOUNDATION. CHAIRMAN MIKE
ENVISIONS THE TRIBE FOCUSING ON
HIGHER EDUCATION. MAINTAIN A
HEALTHY BUSINESS PLAN,
DIVERSIFICATION AND TRIBAL SELF
SUFFICIENCY THAT INCLUDES WATER
ABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY.
CHAIRMAN MIKE STATEMENT IS TO BE
READ ON HIS BEHALF BY SARAH
BLISS 29 PALMS DIRECTOR OF
TRIBAL PROGRAMS. IS SHE ON? OH,
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. OKAY.
PERFECT. THANK YOU. HONORABLE
CHAIRS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
TODAY I AM SPEAKING FROM THE
RESERVATION LANDS OF THE 29
PALMS BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
MOVIE PEOPLE. THE 29TH PALMS
BAND OF MISSION INDIANS HAVE TO
RESERVATION SECTIONS. ONE
LOCATED NEAR 29 PALMS AND
OVERLOOKS THE OASIS OF MARA. AND
THE OTHER LOCATED NEAR THE CITY
OF COACHELLA, WHICH THE
WHITEWATER RIVER FLOWS THROUGH
TO THE SULTAN. SEE? I'M GIVING
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT FOR
CHAIRMAN DARRELL MIKE, CHAIRMAN
OF THE 29 PALMS BAND OF MISSION
INDIANS. OR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
LIVING IN THE DESERT BEING NEAR
AND KNOWING SOURCES OF WATER AS
IN VITAL TO SURVIVAL FOR TIME
AND MEMORIAL. THERE'S ALWAYS
BEEN THAT AN IDEA THAT THE
TRIBES DIDN'T MANAGE THEIR
ENVIRONMENT. BUT THIS PICTURE IS
WRONG. RATHER DESERT TRIBAL
MEMBERS MANAGED DREAM SEEPS AND
SPRINGS TO ENSURE THAT WATER
FLOWED AND CONNECTED AND
DISCONNECTED THE VAST DESERT
LANDSCAPES WITH WATER. THIS
TRADITION CONTINUES TODAY WITH
THE TRIBE MANAGING A RESERVATION
LANDS. BIBLE PERSPECTIVES
INVOLVED KEEPING THE LAND AND
PEOPLE IN GOOD HEALTH, AND THIS
TRADITION CONTINUES TODAY. AS WE
MOVE FORWARD THROUGH TIME.
ISSUES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND
TRIBAL WATER RIGHTS ARE
INESCAPABLE. HOWEVER PRESERVING
THROUGH IT. DIVERSITY IS A
CHALLENGE THAT TRIBES
UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE GREAT
FAMILIARITY WITH TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY, ACCESS AND INPUT
ARE KEY COMPONENT TO LOOKING AT
THE FUTURE. TRIBES HAVE A UNIQUE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
ENVIRONMENT. TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO
MANAGEMENT. THE INTERCONNECTIONS
BETWEEN THE AIR LANDSCAPES,
EARTH, WATER PLANTS, ANIMALS AND
CULTURE ARE THOUGHT THROUGH. AS
EURO CENTRIC POLICIES AND
MANAGEMENT COME INTO CONFLICT
WITH TRADITIONAL VALUES. ONE
POINT I WANT TO ASSERT IS THAT
TRIBES OF MANAGE THESE LANDS FOR
TIME AND MEMORIAL AND ARE NOT
GOING AWAY. CHAIRMAN THERE. UM
TRIBAL CHAIRMAN JO MIKE HAS ALSO
ASKED THAT I GO INTO SOME DETAIL
ON SOME WATER ISSUES ON THE
RESERVATION. AS THE DIRECTOR OF
THE 29 PALMS. UH, TRIBAL E P. A
R DEPARTMENT SEES FIRSTHAND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES ON THE
RESERVATION. THESE ISSUES HAVE
STEMMED EARLY ON, EVEN WHEN THE
RESERVATION IT EVEN WHEN THE
RESERVATION WAS FIRST
DESIGNATED. THE TRIBES. FIRST
RESERVATION WAS CREATED NORTH OF
THE OASIS OF MARA. A PLACE OF
HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR MANY
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. IN 18 91.
THE FAMILY BEING NEGOTIATED AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE MISSION
INDIAN COMMISSION. ALSO KNOWN AS
A SMILEY COMMISSION THAT LED TO
EXECUTIVE ORDER. THAT LITTLE
ORDER IN 18 95 THAT CREATED AN
INDIAN RESERVATION NEAR THE
WASTE OF TAMARA. THIS WAS IN THE
ROCKY FOOTHILLS ON LAND THAT HAD
NO WATER AND AWAY FROM THEIR
FOOD AND HOMES. IN 1975. THE
TRIBE RECEIVED RESERVATION LANDS
NEAR THE CITY OF COACHELLA IN
RIVERSIDE COUNTY. THIS LAND IS
ALONGSIDE THE WHITEWATER RIVER
PANEL. AND WHILE THERE IS ACCESS
TO WATER, THERE IS CONTINUAL
CHALLENGE OF MONITORING AND
MANAGING THIS SOURCE, THE SOUTH
OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PLANT AND CONTINUALLY NEEDS TO
BE MANAGED. ADDITIONALLY THIS
WATER SOURCES AT THE CENTER FOR
TRANSPORTATION THE DYLAN ROAD
BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER, AND THERE
IS MUCH WORK NEEDED TO RESTORE
AND REHABILITATE THE STRUCTURE.
THE THEME FOR THIS PANEL IS THE
HISTORY OF WATER AND THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATER AND
HUMANKIND. THIS RELATIONSHIP
WITH WATER AND LAND IS NOT
CONTENT IS NOT JUST CONTAINED ON
RESERVATION LANDS. TRIED
TRADITIONAL LAND IS IN MUCH
LARGER AND CONTINUE TO COLLECT,
CONTINUALLY CONNECTED WITH
WATER. FROM THE TRIBES. PLACE OF
CREATION. MOUNT CHARLESTON.
KNOWN AS A PLACE OF SNOW HAVING
THE SNOW MELTS, WHICH FOLLOWS
THE TRIBES JOURNEY SOUTH TO THE
COLORADO RIVER OF MARA AND NOW
TO INDIA, WHICH WAS NOTED AS A
PLACE OF SWEETWATER. THROUGHOUT
THIS LANDSCAPE AND JOURNEY IN
THE TRIBE'S TRADITIONAL
TERRITORY. THERE ARE MANY
CHALLENGES TO FACE WITH CLIMATE
CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT, MAKING
THE ENVIRONMENT HARSHER. PLACES
WITH TRIBES COULD GATHER
MATERIALS ARE BEING GREATLY
IMPACTED IN THESE AREAS. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, MA.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR THAT. AND, UM AND THE PEOPLE
ARE 29 PALMS WERE SHARING SOME
OF THE HISTORY THERE AND THINGS
THAT ARE ONGOING. AT THIS TIME.
AND I'M SHERIFF. THERE'S
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FOR THIS PANEL. AND I'LL TAKE MY
OPPORTUNITY. FIRST OF ALL, I
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
WHAT WERE INSIGHTFUL AND.
POWERFUL PRESENTATIONS OF THE
HISTORY OF WATER AND HOW IT'S
IMPACTED YOUR TRIBES. UM I LOVED
THE WAY MISS BLISS AND ON BEHALF
OF CHAIRMAN MIKE CALLED IT A
PLACE OF SWEETWATER. I THINK
IT'S SORT OF IT'S HOME, THE
POWER AND BEAUTY OF HAVING
ACCESS TO WATER AND THE RISKS OF
NOT HAVING ACCESS TO WATER. AND
SO WITH THAT, I REALLY WANTED TO
ASK HOW, UM AND CHAIRMAN OF
IVANKA YOU MENTIONED THAT PEOPLE
ACTUALLY LEFT. YOUR LANDS
BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH
ACCESS TO WATER AND NOW YOU'RE
HOPEFUL WITH THE SETTLEMENT THAT
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN. CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF THE IMPACT ON THE
HEALTH OF YOUR COMMUNITIES? THAT
THIS STRUGGLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO
WATER AND, UM AS MY COLLEAGUE
MENTIONED CLEAN WATER. FOR BACK
YOU HEAR ME NOW? AS AS FAR AS I
CAN REMEMBER BACK, YOU KNOW,
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD STORIES.
YOU KNOW WHEN THE WATER WAS
DEPLETED AND IN THE STREAMS WERE
DRIED UP. OR OUR ANCESTORS MIGHT
MY GRANDPARENTS MY PARENTS, MY
FATHER? SOMETIMES WOULD HAVE TO
BE BUSSED TO SCHOOL EARLY IN THE
MORNING TO BE THE FIRST ONES AT
SCHOOL SO THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO
TAKE SHOWERS BECAUSE THE LACK OF
RUNNING WATER UM THAT IN TUNE IS
A HEALTH ISSUE. BUT IN AN
OVERALL YOU KNOW, THE TRIBE HAS
ALWAYS BEEN RESILIENT AND WE
ALWAYS COME TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER. BE
IT, UH TAKING THE LONG JOURNEY
TO TOWN TO BRING WATER TO EACH
OTHER OR OR SHARING WHATEVER WE
HAD, BUT HOW IT IS, IT'S ALWAYS
BEEN AN ISSUE EVERYWHERE.
EVERYWHERE WE EVERYWHERE WE GO.
YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE
STRUGGLES. WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE
THE WATER, THE FLOWING WATER TO
PROVIDE FOOD OR TO PROVIDE MEALS
OR EVEN TO PROVIDE BATH. IT'S A
STRUGGLE SO HUNTER. ANYTHING TO
ADD. YEAH, IT WAS. WHEN WE FIRST
HAD A REMEMBER WE WERE
TERMINATED. WE NEVER GOT OUR
ORIGINAL LANCE BACK. SO WE JUST
YOU COULD ONLY BUY WHAT WAS
AVAILABLE WHEN YOU GET
TERMINATED SO LATE, A LOT OF
LAND ALREADY PURCHASED. SO YOU
KIND OF JUST END UP WHERE YOU'RE
AT NOW, RIGHT AND THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE AT. BUT WHEN I GREW UP, WE
DIDN'T HAVE WE THE FIRST THING
WE BUILD. WE ALL LIVED IN A
TRAILER. THE FIRST THING WE
BUILT WAS A WASH HOUSE. SO YOU
HAD, YOU KNOW, WASHER DRYER AND
THEN YOU HAD SHOWERS. AND
BATHROOMS, AND WE THERE'S ABOUT
FIVE FAMILIES AND WE USE THAT.
ALMOST EVERY NIGHT. AND I HAD
THE GREATEST TIME OF MY LIFE,
YOU KNOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF
THIS YOUNGER GENERATION COULD DO
OUTHOUSES AND SHARED BATHROOMS
AND SHARE SHOWERS AND DO THAT.
IT MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY, SO
I'M NOT TOO BUMMED ABOUT IT. BUT
AT THE SAME TIME I RECOGNIZE
THAT OUR POPULATION HAS
INCREASED. SO BY SO MUCH MORE
AND REMEMBER, WE'RE LESS THAN 3%
OF THE POPULATION WERE LIKE, YOU
KNOW, I MY MOTHER IS THE LAST
TIER OF THE REST OF THE INDIANS
THAT LIVED ON THE OLD LAKE
MEDICINE. OH, SHE'S THE LAST
ONE. AND NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW
THAT AND I GO WHAT A LEGACY AND
I'M SO THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO
LEARN THAT LEGACY AND TELL YOU
GUYS THAT BUT, UH, THEY'RE
THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT
AROUND ANYMORE. YOU KNOW, AND
THEY WERE TREATED THE HARSHEST
SO NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT PREPARING
FOR THE FUTURE. AND THAT'S MY
JOB, YOU KNOW? SO I GET MY
STRENGTH FROM MY MOTHER AND MY
ELDERS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I
GOT TO THINK OF THE FUTURE SO
REALLY, ALWAYS FALL BACK ON. HOW
DO WE GET THE TRIBES TO BE THE
NUMBER ONE? SENIOR IN GETTING
WATER RIGHTS BECAUSE WE ARE LESS
POPULATED THAN ANYONE ELSE. WE
ARE. WE'RE GOING AND WE'RE GOING
INSTINCT IF WE DON'T BRING OUR
PEOPLE HOME AND NOURISH THEM AND
GET THEM HEALTHY AND MOVING
FORWARD YOU IN ORDER TO DO THAT
YOU HAVE TO HAVE RUNNING WATER.
THANK YOU. AND YOU'RE THE
RESILIENCE THAT YOU DISCUSS IS
APPARENT AND IMPRESSIVE, BUT,
YES, YOU NEED CLEAN RUNNING
WATER IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO
THRIVE. APPRECIATE THAT. WELL
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR PRESENTATIONS THAT
CONCLUDES PANEL ONE. THANK YOU.
SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO PANEL TO
WHICH IS THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN AT THE TRIBES AND THE
FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS
AND WITH US FOR THAT PANEL, WE
HAVE SCOTT BERGSTROM ASSISTANCE
. THIS LETTER OFFICE SOLICITOR,
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND
SC TO AGOSTINA STREIBLE, POLICY
ADVISOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES, AND ADRIANA
RENTERIA, TRIBAL LIAISON AT THE
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL
BOARD. WHO SOME OF THEM ARE
ONLINE. LOOK AT THAT. LOOK, IT
TELLS ME WHO'S ONLINE. SO WE
WILL START WITH MR BERGSTROM,
WHO IS ON WEBEX, MR BERGSTROM.
GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE CHAIRS,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND TRIBAL
LEADERS. MY NAME IS SCOTT
BERGSTROM AND I CURRENTLY SERVE
AS THE ASSISTANT SOLICITOR FOR
THE BRANCH OF INDIAN WATER
RESOURCES IN THE U. S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SOLICITOR'S OFFICE IN
WASHINGTON, D. C. I'VE WORKED
THE DEPARTMENT FOR NEARLY 28
YEARS AND FOCUSED MOST OF THAT
TIME ON INDIAN WATER RIGHTS AND
RELATED ISSUES. I'M HONORED TO
SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ON THIS
IMPORTANT TOPIC AND TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION ON INDIAN WATER
RIGHTS, GENERALLY, INCLUDING THE
FEDERAL TRIBAL, REALLY
GROUNDWATER IS A SOURCE TO
SATISFY THESE RIGHTS AND METHODS
TO QUANTIFY THESE RIGHTS,
INCLUDING THROUGH INDIAN WATER
RIGHTS SETTLEMENTS. OVER 100.
YEARS AGO, THE U. S SUPREME
COURT ISSUED ITS DECISION
WHETHER IT'S THE UNITED STATES,
WHICH RECOGNIZED THAT THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FORT
BELKNAP INDIAN RESERVATION
IMPLIEDLY RESERVED THE AMOUNT OF
WATER NECESSARY TO IRRIGATE IT
SLAMS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
SINCE THAT LANDMARK DECISIONS,
SUBSEQUENT SUPREME COURT
DECISIONS AS WELL AS THOSE FROM
OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS
HAVE DEFINED THE SCOPE AND
CONTOURS OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE
WINTER STOCK. QURAN WHICH COVERS
RESERVED WATER RIGHTS FOR BOTH
INDIAN AND NON INDIAN FEDERAL
RESERVATIONS. ALTHOUGH CONGRESS
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
GENERALLY DEFER TO STATE LAW
REGARDING THE ALLOCATION AND USE
OF WATER WITHIN THE RESPECTIVE
STATES, THE SUPREME COURT HAS
DESCRIBED WINTERS AS AN
EXCEPTION THAT CONGRESS IS
EXPLICIT DIFFERENCE TO STATE
WATER LAW AND OTHER AREAS.
ACCORDINGLY WATER RIGHTS UNDER
THE WINTER STOCK QURAN,
INCLUDING FOR INDIAN
RESERVATIONS AND ALLOTMENTS,
HELD IN TRUST OR RESTRICTED
STATUS, OR DEFINED PRIMARILY BY
FEDERAL COMMON LAW. WINTERS
RIGHT SHARE CERTAIN SURMA LIPS
SIMILARITIES WITH STATE BASED
WATER RIGHTS. THEY'RE SUBJECT TO
QUANTIFICATION AND FEDERAL OR
STATE COURT CONSISTENT WITH THE
MCCARRAN AMENDMENT. WE HAVE
PRIORITY DATES SIMILAR TO THOSE
UNDER THE PRIOR APPROPRIATION
DOCTRINE RECOGNIZED IN MOST
WESTERN STATES, INCLUDING
CALIFORNIA. BUT THEY DIVERGED
FROM STATE BASED WATER RIGHTS
AND WESTERN WATER LAW AND OTHER
RESPECTS. THEY VEST NO LATER
THAN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
RESERVATION AND MAY HAVE
ABORIGINAL OR ALSO KNOWN AS TIME
IMMEMORIAL PRIORITY. QUANTIFIED
BASED ON WHAT'S NEEDED TO
ACCOMPLISH THE RESERVATIONS,
PRESENT AND FUTURE PURPOSES, NOT
JUST INITIAL DIVERSIONS OR EVEN
CURRENT USE OF WATER. THEY MAY
BE USED FOR ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE
ON THE RESERVATION, AND THEY CAN
SERVE MULTIPLE PURPOSES. UH
AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES UNDER THE
PRACTICALLY IRRITABLE ACREAGE.
STANDARD ANNOUNCEMENT. ARIZONA,
CALIFORNIA. DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL,
MUNICIPAL OR INDUSTRIAL USES. IN
STREAM OR NON CONSUMPTIVE USES
FOR FISH AND OTHER PURPOSES AND
THE US BROADLY CLAIMS HOMELAND
PURPOSES FOR VARIOUS TRIBES
ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED
STATES. THE UNITED STATES HAS
TRUST RELATIONSHIP AND GENERALLY
HOLDS LEGAL TITLE TO RESERVATION
LANDS AND RELATED INTERESTS,
SUCH AS WINTER'S RIGHTS AND
TRUST FOR THE BNEFIT OF THE
RESPECT OF INDIAN TRIBES. THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
INCLUDING MY OFFICE, THE
SOLICITOR'S OFFICE AND THE
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, WORK
WITH INDIAN TRIBES TO PROTECT
AND QUANTIFY THEIR WINNERS
RIGHTS, WHETHER THROUGH
LITIGATION OR THROUGH NEGOTIATED
SETTLEMENTS. FEDERAL AGENCIES
SUCH AS THE B I. A AND THE
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION ALSO WORK
WITH INDIAN TRIBES
PROGRAMMATICALLY TO PUT THEIR
WATER RESOURCES TO USE WITH
RESPECT TO GROUNDWATER AS A
POTENTIAL SOURCE FOR WINDOWS
RIGHTS. NEARLY A DECADE AGO, THE
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF KOREA
INDIANS, LATER JOINED BY THE
UNITED STATES, SUCH CONFIRMED
THAT THE BAND'S WINTERS RIGHTS
COULD BE SATISFIED FROM
GROUNDWATER. THE FEDERAL
DISTRICT COURT GRANTED PARTIAL
SUMMARY JUDGMENT CONFIRMING THE
BAND'S INTERESTS AND GROUNDWATER
. THE NINTH CIRCUIT AFFIRMED AND
THE U. S. SUPREME COURT DENIED
FURTHER REVIEW. KELLY NT
DECISION WAS NOT NOVEL, HOWEVER
, DATING BACK AT LEAST TO THE 19
FIFTIES. COURTS HAVE RECOGNIZED
THE GROUNDWATER COULD BE A
SOURCE FOR WINTER'S RIGHTS,
INCLUDING A 1962 INTERLOCUTORY
JUDGMENT FROM THE FEDERAL COURT
IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
CALIFORNIA REGARDING THE WATER
RIGHTS, THE RAMONA KAWEAH AND
PECHANGA INDIAN RESERVATIONS IN
THE SANTA MARGHERITA RIVER
BASIN. AND THE 1976 INDIAN
CLAIMS COMMISSION JUDGMENT
INVOLVING THE SUPPORT OF A
RESERVATION. IN FACT, MULTIPLE
DECISIONS HAVE CONFIRMED THIS
VIEW, INCLUDING DECISIONS FROM
THE STATE SUPREME COURTS OF
ARIZONA, COLORADO AND MONTANA,
AS WELL AS THE NINTH CIRCUIT BY
AFFIRMING THE FALLBROOK
INTERLOCUTORY JUDGMENT IN 1965.
AND ITS PRIOR DECISION AND
CAPER, THE UNITED STATES IN THE
MID 19 SEVENTIES. ALTHOUGH THE
SUPREME COURT AFFIRMED THAT
DECISION ON OTHER GROUNDS
MOREOVER, IN NUMEROUS INDIAN
WATER RIGHTS, SETTLEMENTS AND
SETTLEMENTS ENACTED BY CONGRESS
FOR OTHER FEDERAL LANDS HAVE
LIKEWISE RECOGNIZED GROUNDWATER
AS A SOURCE TO SATISFY WINTERS
RIGHTS INVOLVING INDIAN AND
OTHER FEDERAL RESERVATIONS
ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES
AND IN VIRTUALLY EVERY STATE
WEST OF THE 100TH MERIDIAN
DATING AT LEAST AS EARLY AS THE
1978 OPTIONS SETTLEMENT IN
ARIZONA. AND INCLUDING THE 1988
, SAN LOUIS RAY AND 2008
SUBURBAN SETTLEMENTS IN
CALIFORNIA. ONLY ONE DECISION,
ONE FROM THE WYOMING SUPREME
COURT INVOLVING THE WIND RIVER
RESERVATION AS PART OF THE
STATE'S BIGHORN ADJUDICATION,
HAS DECLINED TO EXTEND WINNERS
RIGHTS TO GROUNDWATER. THAT
COURT ENDORSED THE UNDERLYING
LOGIC BUT SEEMED RELUCTANT TO BE
IN ITS VIEW THE FIRST COURT TO
DO SO. BUT EVEN IN WYOMING, IN
THIS SAME ADJUDICATION,
STIPULATED FEDERAL RESERVE
RIGHTS TO GROUNDWATER HAVE SINCE
BEEN INCLUDED IN THE FINAL
DECREE FOR CERTAIN BUREAU OF
LAND MANAGEMENT AND U. S FOREST
SERVICE CLAIMS. THUS, NUMEROUS
COURT DECISIONS AND NUMEROUS
WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENTS HAVE
RECOGNIZED OR INCLUDED
GROUNDWATER AS A SOURCE TO
SATISFY IN POLAR IN PART WINNERS
RIGHTS FOR INDIAN AS WELL AS FOR
OTHER FEDERAL RESERVATIONS.
FINALLY THE METHODS TO QUANTIFY
WINTERS RIGHTS GENERALLY INCLUDE
LITIGATION THROUGH COURTS AND
MAY ALSO INCLUDE SETTLEMENTS
ENACTED BY CONGRESS. WITH
RESPECT TO LITIGATION OR FORMAL
WATER RIGHTS, ADJUDICATIONS, YOU
KNOW, THEY STARTED WITH, YOU
KNOW THE PREEMINENT DECISION IN
WINTERS AND EVEN A CASE OR TWO
BEFORE WINTER'S OVER 100 YEARS
AGO, THE 1963 DECISION IN
ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA FROM THE
SUPREME COURT THAT HAS SINCE
BEEN AMENDED AND MODIFIED AT
VARIOUS TIMES. AND VARIOUS OTHER
FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS HAVE
DEFINED PART OR ALL OF RESERVED
WATER RIGHTS FOR INDIAN AND NON
INDIAN FEDERAL RESERVATIONS.
AFTER 1952 AND THE ENACTMENT OF
THE MCCARRAN AMENDMENT. STATE
COURTS ALSO HAVE CONCURRENT
JURISDICTION TO QUANTIFY AND
RESOLVE FEDERAL AND TRIBAL WATER
RIGHTS AS PART OF A
COMPREHENSIVE WATER RICE
ADJUDICATION. IN CALIFORNIA.
THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY THE
FALLBROOK ADJUDICATION AND THE
SANTA MARGHERITA RIVER BASIN.
PECHANGA BAND HAS SINCE SETTLED
ITS CLAIMS, AND WE HAVE PENDING
NEGOTIATIONS AND HOPEFULLY A
SETTLEMENT FOR THE QUEEN RAMONA
BANDS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE'RE
ALSO CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING AS
PART OF THE AGUA KELLY INTO
LITIGATION THAT I DESCRIBED
EARLIER ALONG WITH THE BAND. AND
SINCE THE 19 NINETIES, WE'VE
ALSO HAD VARIOUS CASES IN THE
KLAMATH BASIN INVOLVING TRIBAL
FISHING AND RELATED WATER RICE,
ALBEIT NOT SUBJECT TO A FORMAL
WATER RIGHTS ADJUDICATION. WE
ALSO RESOLVED INDIAN WATER
RIGHTS AND OTHER FEDERAL CLAIMS
THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL ENACTED
SETTLEMENTS. OVER THE COURSE OF
MY TENURE, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR HAS EXPRESSED A
PREFERENCE TO RESOLVE INDIAN
WATER RIGHTS THROUGH SETTLEMENT
RATHER THAN LITIGATION. BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES THIS
POSITION AND STRONGLY SUPPORTS
THE RESOLUTION OF INDIAN WATER
RIGHTS FROM NEGOTIATED
SETTLEMENTS. THE SETTLEMENTS,
HELP ENSURE THAT TRIBAL NATIONS
HAVE SAFE, RELIABLE WATER
SUPPLIES, IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL
AND HEALTH CONCERNS ON
RESERVATIONS ENABLE ECONOMIC
GROWTH, PROMOTE TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY AND SELF SUFFICIENCY
AND HELPFUL HELP FULFILL THE
UNITED STATES TRUST
RESPONSIBILITY TO INDIAN TRIBES.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE
SETTLEMENTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL
TO END DECADES OF CONTROVERSY
AND CONTENTION AMONG TRIBAL
NATIONS IN NEIGHBORING
COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTE
COOPERATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES. THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY AND
NEGOTIATED ANY WATER SETTLEMENTS
IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING
PRINCIPLES. THE UNITED STATES
WILL PARTICIPATE IN SETTLEMENTS
CONSISTENT WITH ITS LEGAL AND
MORAL TRUST RESPONSIBILITIES TO
TRAVEL NATIONS. TRIBES SHOULD
RECEIVE EQUIVALENT BENEFITS FOR
THE RIGHTS, WHICH THEY AND THE
UNITED STATES AS TRUSTEE MAY
RELEASE AS PART OF THE
SETTLEMENT. TRIBES SHOULD
REALIZE VALUE FROM CONFIRMED
WATER RIGHTS RESULTING FROM A
SETTLEMENT. AND SETTLEMENTS
SHOULD CONTAIN APPROPRIATE COST
SHARING PROPORTIONATE TO THE
BENEFITS RECEIVED BY ALL PARTIES
BENEFITING FROM THE SETTLEMENT.
NINE FEDERAL MONETARY
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR INDIAN WATER
SETTLEMENTS ENACTED BY CONGRESS
HAVE RANGED FROM $0 TO OVER $55
MILLION AND PERCENTAGE WISE FROM
0 TO 50% OF THE ENTIRE
SETTLEMENT. FOR ENACTED
SETTLEMENTS IN CALIFORNIA. THE
SUPPORT OF A SETTLEMENT INCLUDED
EIGHT MILLION IN MONETARY
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LOCAL WATER
DISTRICTS, AS WELL AS TOTAL
FINANCIAL AND IN KIND
CONTRIBUTIONS ESTIMATED TO
EXCEED $80 MILLION AS OF 2008.
SIMILARLY THE PECHANGA
SETTLEMENT INCLUDES FINANCIAL
AND IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS
ESTIMATED TO EXCEED $77 MILLION
AS OF 2016 PROVIDED FROM THEIR
CHILD, A BAND AND RANCHO
CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT. AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER. THERE ARE
OTHER POTENTIAL SETTLEMENTS, UH
, PENDING IN CALIFORNIA AT
VARIOUS STAGES, INCLUDING TWO LI
RIVER KOREA, RAMONA AND AGUA
CALIENTE. SIMILAR EFFORTS TO
RESOLVE TRIBAL WATER. RICE AT
LEAST WITH RESPECT IN STREAM
FLOWS, IF NOT BROADER RIGHTS AND
THE KLAMATH BASIN AND WHILE
SETTLEMENT IN THE CLIMATE HAS
BEEN ELUSIVE FOR THE PAST COUPLE
OF DECADES, WE'VE HAD AN ACTIVE
PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES WITH THE YUROK AND OTHER
BASIN TRIBES. THAT CONCLUDES MY
REMARKS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
BALANCE OF THIS IMPORTANT
HEARING AND I'D BE HAPPY TO
ANSWER. ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
THAT I CAN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THAT OVERVIEW. NOW WE WILL TURN
IT TO MISS AGOSTINA STREIBLE
POLICY ADVISOR WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
WHO IS HERE IN PERSON. GOOD
MORNING. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE
HERE TODAY, AND I THINK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BEAR CON THE
WATER PARKS AND WILDLIFE
COMMITTEE AND THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON NATIVE AMERICAN
AFFAIRS FOR CONVENING THIS JOINT
HEARING. I ALSO WISH TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRIBAL LEADERS
TO TRIBAL ELDERS WHO ARE
SPEAKING PARTICIPATING AND IN
THE AUDIENCE TODAY. IT'S MY
HONOR TO JOIN THE TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP ON THIS MOST PRESSING
ISSUES CONCERNING THE SCARCITY
AND SACREDNESS OF OUR MOST
PRECIOUS RESOURCE, WHICH IS
WATER. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES,
AND I SERVED AS THE TRIBAL
POLICY ADVISOR. I HAVE BEEN IN
THIS ROLE SINCE 2013 AND MY
POSITION AT DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES WAS ONE OF THE VERY
FIRST CIA APPOINTMENTS IN STATE
GOVERNMENT THAT WAS DEDICATED TO
TRIBAL GVERNMENT. AND TRIBAL
ENGAGEMENTS. THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES RECOGNIZED VERY
EARLY THAT TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT,
WHICH HISTORICALLY WAS NEVER A
STATE PRIORITY BECAME INDEED A
PRIORITY THROUGH ENGAGEMENT,
CONSULTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF
ADVISORY BODIES AND BOARDS THAT
COULD ASSIST DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES IN DEVELOPING OUR
POLICIES ON HUMAN RIGHT TO
WATER, INCREASING PARTICIPATION
AND GRANT DEVELOPMENT. FOR
INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER
MANAGEMENT EMERGENCY DROUGHT
FUNDING. DEVELOPMENT OF TRIBAL
MONITORING CONTRACTS TO PAY
TRIBAL PARTNERS AS SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTS IN STATE
INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND
PROJECTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
LEARNING HOW TO WORK WITH TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNS AS PARTNERS IN
VARIOUS MULTI BENEFIT PROGRAMS
FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATES AND
IN DEVELOPING POLICIES ON ACCESS
TO ANCESTRAL LANDS. NONE OF THIS
HAS BEEN WITHOUT CHALLENGES. AS
YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE FIRST
PANEL, MANY TRIBES FACED MANY
YEARS OF DISCRIMINATION AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL, AND WITH STATE
POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT HAVE
FOCUSED MAINLY ON LOCAL AND
REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT,
EXCLUDING TRIBES. TRIBES AND
LOCALS ARE FACED WITH HOW TO
MANAGE WATER THAT ALSO RESPECTS
FEDERAL RESERVE WATER RIGHTS AND
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY. IN REFERENCE
TO TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY. THE
APPROACH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES THROUGH THE EXECUTION
OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS BE 10 11 AND
IN 15 19. AND THROUGH THE
CONSULTATION POLICIES OF OUR
PARENT AGENCY, THE CALIFORNIA
NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
AN TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT POLICY IS
TO RECOGNIZE THAT FROM TIME
IMMEMORIAL TRIBES HAVE POSSESSED
INHERENT, RIGHT AND AUTHORITY
OVER THEIR PEOPLE AND THEIR
TERRITORY. AND THIS SOVEREIGN
RIGHT PREDATES THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
AND THE CREATION OF CALIFORNIA
AS A STATE. STATE CONSULTATION
POLICIES, EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND
LEGISLATIONS HAVE AFFIRMED
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
TRIBES THEIR UNIQUE POLITICAL
STATUS FROM ANY OTHER GROUP. IN
OUR OUTREACH DOCUMENTS AND
EFFORTS, THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT TRIBES ARE NOT STAKEHOLDERS
. THEY ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. THEY ARE NOT AN ETHNIC
GROUP. BUT SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENTS
, WHICH REQUIRES STATE AGENCIES
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION. AND
THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT I
MENTIONED EARLIER, ALSO NOT ONLY
INCLUDE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED
TRIBES. BUT THIS 70 PLUS NON
PHILLY LIKE NICE TRIBES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. IN EARLY 2000. UM,
EXCUSE ME. IN EARLY 2005 THAT
THE DEPARTMENT OF. OF WATER
RESOURCES DEVELOPED A TRIBAL
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING TRIBAL
ENGAGEMENT IN THE CALIFORNIA
WATER PLAN. THE CALIFORNIA WATER
PLAN AS A DOCUMENT THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
WAS REQUIRED TO UPDATE EVERY
FIVE YEARS SINCE THE CREATION OF
OUR DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS NOT
UNTIL 2005 THAT IS STATE AGENCY
DECIDED THAT IT WAS UP TIME TO
INCLUDE TRIBES IN CALIFORNIA
WATER MANAGEMENT THAT TRIBAL
ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE LED TO THE
DEVELOPMENT. EVERY TRIBAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND
EVENTUALLY TO THE FIRST STATE
WHITE SUMMIT DEALING WITH WATER
ISSUES IN CALIFORNIA. THE FIRST
TRIBAL WATER SUMMIT WAS HELD IN
2009 AND G D. P R HAS SPONSORED
A TRIBAL WATER SUMMIT WITH
TRIBAL PARTNERS AS PART OF EACH
CALIFORNIA. CALIFORNIA WATER
PLAN UPDATE EVERY FIVE YEARS
SINCE THEN. PAST TRIBAL WATER
SUMMITS HAVE BEEN HELD IN 9,
2020, 13 AND 2018. THE NEXT
TRIBAL WATER SUMMIT WILL BE HELD
IN SACRAMENTO IN APRIL OF 2023.
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED AT
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IS
THAT TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT OFTEN
STOPS DURING THE GRANT MAKING
PROCESS. MANY STATE PROGRAMS AND
STANDARDS, SCOPE OF WORK. STATE
CONTRACTING FORMS, GRANT
AGREEMENTS AND BASIC OTHER STATE
FORMS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO ENGAGE
WITH TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS. THEY'RE
DESIGNED FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
AND REGIONAL AGENCIES. WE HAVE
FOUND THAT THESE BASIC STATE
AGREEMENTS HAVE NOT PROPERLY
ADDRESSED TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY
ISSUES OR MUTUAL RESPECT ON A
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT LEVEL.
BETWEEN A TRIBAL SOVEREIGN AND A
STATE AGENCY. DWS OURS GRANT
PROGRAM. OUR MANAGERS HAVE
EXPERIENCE THAT OFTENTIMES TRIBE
MAY ELECT TO NOT PARTICIPATE IN
A STATE GRANT THAT WILL REQUIRE
A WAIVER OF LIMITED WAIVER OF
TRIBAL SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY, EVEN
IN A LIVID CAPACITY. WE HAVE
SEEN GREATER PARTICIPATION AND
INTERESTS WHEN GRANT PROGRAMS
ALLOW FOR STATE FLEXIBILITY IN
THE ADMINISTRATION OF A GRANT,
SUCH AS DEVELOPING SPECIFIC
TRIBAL SET ASIDES FOR TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS DEVELOPING
GUIDELINES FOR GRANT
ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE NOT ONLY
NON COMPETITIVE BUT RESPECT
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY. TRIBAL LAW
AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SEQUENCE
CANNOT BE APPLIED TO ALL TRIBAL
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
THAT ARE DEVELOPING ON TRIBAL
SOVEREIGN LANDS. DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES SUSTAINABLE
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM,
KNOWN AS SIGMA HAS DEVELOPED A
BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT
THAT INFORMED LOCAL REGIONAL
AGENCIES. THE RESPONSE THEY HAVE
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABLE PLANTS
THAT PER SIGMA. EACH AGENCY MUST
CONSIDER THE INTERESTS OF ALL
BENEFICIAL USERS AND USES OF
GROUNDWATER, INCLUDING
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
TRIBES. THE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT
WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GUIDANCE
DOCUMENTS IN THE STATE THAT
RECOGNIZED TRIBAL LAW AND TRIBAL
LAND FOR THE EXPRESS LANGUAGE
AND SIGMA THAT STATES THAT THE
ACT RECOGNIZES TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY AND THAT IN ANY
JUDICIAL ADJUDICATION OF
GROUNDWATER RIGHTS OR IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PLAN THAT
FEDERAL RESERVE WATER RIGHTS TO
GROUNDWATER SHALL BE RESPECTED
IN FULL. FURTHER IF THERE IS ANY
CONFLICT BETWEEN FEDERAL STATE
LAW AND THAT ADJUDICATION OR
MANAGEMENT, FEDERAL LAW SHALL
PREVAIL. THERE ARE MANY OTHER
ISSUES TO ADDRESS. HOWEVER IN MY
REMAINING TIME, I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WE STILL
HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO TRULY A
TREE. RESPECTFUL TRIBAL
ENGAGEMENT. MY EXPERIENCE IN
CONDUCTING GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION HAVE
RAISED MANY REMAINING ISSUES
SUCH AS THE QUANTIFICATION OF
PUBLICBENEFITS, SACRED SITE
PROTECTION AND THE UTILIZATION
OF GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS SUCH
AS M. O U. S AND M. O S AND
JOINT POWERS. AUTHORITIES. AND
ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT TO
AGREEMENTS THAT DO NOT INFRINGE
UPON TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY. THERE
ARE MANY CHALLENGES THAT YOU
HAVE YET TO BE ADDRESSED, WHICH
WILL ALSO INCLUDE HOW TO
MAINTAIN RESPECT FOR DATA
SOVEREIGNTY, AND THIS IS AN
ONGOING NEW ISSUE THAT WE'RE
SEEING IN DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCE, ESPECIALLY IN THE
FACILITATION OF TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE GRANT FUNDING NOT
ONLY THROUGH OUR GROUNDWATER
PROGRAM, BUT ALSO AND THE
INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER
MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THE
PROTECTION OF TRIBAL CULTURAL
RESOURCES IS MOST IMPORTANT AND
APPARENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE
DEALING WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF A B 52 DEFINING THE NEW
DEFINITION OF WHAT IS A TRIBAL,
CULTURAL RESOURCE AND DEFINING
TRIBAL CULTURAL LANDSCAPES AND
ALSO ACCESS AND WHAT IS CO
MANAGEMENT TO ANCESTRAL LANDS.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT AREA IS HOW
ARE WE INTEGRATING INDIGENOUS
KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE ON
ADVISORY BOARDS AND BODIES.
THERE ARE MANY STATE AGENCIES
AND BOARDS THAT OFTEN SAY WE ARE
A SCIENCE ADVISORY BODY. BUT YOU
DO NOT SEE TRIBAL LEADERSHIP
BEING NOMINATED OR A SELECTED
FOR THOSE BOARDS, AND THESE
BOARDS ARE MAKING VERY UM, YOU
KNOW, UM, ONGOING LONG TERM
HORIZON ISSUES WITHIN 2030 40 50
YEAR HORIZON ON TRIBAL LANDS AND
SPECIFICALLY, I'M SPEAKING LIKE
, FOR INSTANCE, A DELTA
PROTECTION COMMISSION AND ITS
ADVISORY BODY THAT IS GOING TO
BE SUBMITTING A MANAGEMENT PLAN
THAT WILL DEFINE THE DELTA, THE
DELTAS OVER THE NEXT
50 YEARS. SO I URGED THE
COMMITTEE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE
SELECTION PROCESS OF ADVISORY
BODIES AND BOARDS THAT DO NOT
CONSIDER THEMSELVES SCIENCE
BODIES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDING
TRIBAL LEADERS AS SCIENCE
SUBJECT MATTER. EXPERTS ONE OF
THE, UM AS MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES IS MANAGING THE STATE
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT,
AND WE JUST RECENTLY RELEASED
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.
UM THAT'S OUT FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE HAD TWO YEARS OF
VERY ROBUST TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT
THROUGH THAT TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT
WITH DELTA SPECIFIC TRIBES
THROUGH A B 52 CONSULTATION DID
. THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES HAS DETERMINED THAT
THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE 52, THE DELTA IS BEING
CONSIDERED A TRIBAL CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE. HEY, THANK YOU SO
MUCH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY
OF YOUR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THAT. WE WILL NOW TURN
IT OVER TO ADRIANA RENTERIA, THE
TRIBAL LIAISON WITH THE STRAIGHT
WATER RESOURCE CONTROL BOARD,
WHO I BELIEVE IS ON WEB BACK.
AND TERRY, ARE YOU THERE? YES.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. GOOD
MORNING. ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE MY
SCREEN? ALRIGHT? YES WE SEE THE
SLIDES, OKAY? ALL RIGHT, WELL,
GOOD MORNING TRIBAL CHAIRS AND
TRIBAL LEADERS AND ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THIS
REALLY IMPORTANT HEARING THIS
MORNING, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL
OF THE PRESENTERS THAT HAVE
SHARED THEIR PARENTS POWERFUL
TESTIMONIES THIS MORNING AS
WELL. MY NAME IS ADRIANA
RENTERIA AND I'M THE DIRECTOR
FOR THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION AND THE TRIBAL
LIAISON FOR THE CALIFORNIA WATER
BOARDS. MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT
AND COLLABORATION WITH
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
TRIBES IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE
MISSION OF THE WATER BOARDS. AND
TODAY I'D LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE
BIT OF INFORMATION AROUND HOW
THE WATER BOARDS PARTNER WITH
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
TRIBES AND A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF A
FEW OF OUR KEY PROGRAM AREAS. AS
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHO THE
WATER BOARDS ARE. THIS IS AN
IMAGE THAT SHOWS THAT CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
THE CALIFORNIA WATER BOARDS IS A
BOARD WITHIN THE UMBRELLA OF
CALI P A, WHICH IS AN AGENCY
DEDICATED TO PROTECTING
CALIFORNIA'S ENVIRONMENT AND
PUBLIC HEALTH. THE MISSION OF
THE WATER BOARDS IS TO PRESERVE,
ENHANCE AND RESTORE CALIFORNIA'S
WATER RESOURCES AND DRINKING
WATER FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRESENT
AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE
WATER BOARDS IS MADE UP OF 10
INDEPENDENT BOARDS THAT INCLUDE
ONE STATE WATER BOARD AND 10 AND
NINE REGIONAL WATER BOARDS. THE
WATER BOARDS FOCUS ON A COUPLE
OF KEY AUTHORITIES, SO THE STATE
WATER BOARD FOCUSES ON
PROTECTING WATER QUALITY, WHICH
INCLUDES ESTABLISHING WATER
QUALITY STANDARDS AND DEVELOPING
PLANS AND POLICIES TO PROTECT
THOSE STANDARDS. ENSURING THAT
EVERYONE IN CALIFORNIA HAS
ACCESS TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE
DRINKING WATER. WE DO THIS BY
SETTING DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WATER
SYSTEMS
AND WE COORDINATE OUR STATEWIDE
TRIBAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM. THE NINE
REGIONAL WATER BOARDS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING AND
ENFORCING WATER QUALITY
STANDARDS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO
THE WATER BODIES OF THEIR
REGION. SO TODAY, I'D LIKE TO
FOCUS ON FOUR KEY PROGRAM AREAS
. THE FIRST IS OUR GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS. THE
SECOND IS OUR WORK, ENSURING
SAFE AND AFFORDABLE DRINKING
WATER FOR ALL THE THIRD IS THE
DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGNATION OF
TRIBAL BENEFICIAL USES. AND THE
LAST IS OUR PROGRAM TO MONITOR
THE QUALITY OF OUR SURFACE
WATER. SO TO BEGIN, UM,
MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
TRIBES. IT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR
MISSION BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE
PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO THE
PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, AND
BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZED TRIBES,
HISTORIC KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERIENCE MANAGING WATER
RESOURCES SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL.
IN 2019. WE ADOPTED OUR TRIBAL
CONSULTATION POLICY WHERE WE
REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT AND OUR
VALUES TO WORKING WITH
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
TRIBES, AND IN THIS DOCUMENT, WE
PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO WATERBOARD
STAFF ABOUT OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR
CONDUCTING MEANINGFUL AND
RESPECTFUL GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS. UM IN
A WAY THAT IS RESPECTFUL OF ALL
PARTIES, CULTURAL VALUES AND IN
A WAY THAT IS MUTUALLY
RESPECTFUL OF ALL PARTIES,
SOVEREIGNTY. IN 2020, THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY ALSO ADOPTED A
TRIBAL CONSULTATION PROTOCOL,
WHERE THEY PROVIDE FURTHER
GUIDANCE TO STAFF AROUND
EXPECTATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS. ON THE
SCREEN. I HAVE A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES OF AN ABBREVIATED LIST
OF TOPICS AND PROJECTS WHERE WE
ARE CURRENTLY SOLICITING
CONSULTATION REQUESTS. TRIBES
CAN REQUEST TO BE ADDED TO OUR A
B 52 CONSULTATION LIST, WHERE
THEY WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS
OF PROJECTS, PROGRAMS OR
POLICIES TAKING PLACE ON THEIR
ANCESTRAL LAND. AND IN ADDITION
TO A B 52 TRIBAL LEADERS ARE
ALSO INVITED AND WELCOME TO
REQUEST CONSULTATION ON ANY
POLICIES OR PROGRAMS AT ANY
TIME. TRIBAL CONSULTATION POLICY
ALSO ESTABLISHED A STRUCTURE
WITH ONE STATE WHERE I TRIBAL
LIAISON AND NINE REGIONAL TRIBAL
COORDINATORS SO IN MY ROLE AS
THE TRIBAL LIAISON, I'M
RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING
OUTREACH, COMMUNICATION AND
CONSULTATION EFFORTS BETWEEN THE
WATER BOARDS AND TRIBAL NATIONS
, AND I'M REALLY AVAILABLE AS A
RESOURCE TO HELP CONNECT TRIBES
TO INFORMATION PEOPLE OR
RESOURCES. THE NINE REGIONAL
TRIBAL COORDINATORS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATING
WITH TRIBES ABOUT SPECIFIC
PROJECTS TAKING PLACE WITHIN
THEIR REGION. THE LINK ON THE
SLIDE SHARES MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE TRIBAL REGIONAL
COORDINATORS. THE SECOND KEY
PROGRAM AREA. UM, I WANT TO I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS ARE SAFER
DRINKING WATER PROGRAM. IN ORDER
TO ADVANCE THE HUMAN RIGHT TO
WATER. THE STATE WATER BOARD
CREATED THE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE
FUNDING FOR EQUITY AND
RESILIENCE DRINKING WATER
PROGRAM. THIS IS A PROGRAM
THAT'S DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT
EVERY CALIFORNIAN HAS ACCESS TO
SAFE AND AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE
DRINKING WATER. THE SAFER
PROGRAM USES A COMBINATION OF
DIFFERENT TOOLS, INCLUDING AN
ANNUAL DRINKING WATER NEEDS
ASSESSMENT. A COMBINATION OF
MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES.
REGULATORY AUTHORITIES,
COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT
AND EDUCATION, A STATEWIDE
ADVISORY GROUP. AND COORDINATION
BETWEEN FEDERAL STATE TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS. WE HAVE BEEN
COORDINATING WITH THE UNITED
STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY, THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES FOR OVER A YEAR
OVER A YEAR ON A MONTHLY BASIS
TO COORDINATE AND IDENTIFY AND
RESPOND TO TRIBAL DRINKING WATER
NEEDS. THE SAFER PROGRAM IS ABLE
TO FIND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
DRINKING WATER PROJECTS. UM,
SOME OF THE FUNDING. SOME OF THE
PROJECTS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FUND
INCLUDE EMERGENCY OR HAULED
BOTTLED WATER POINT OF VIEW,
SOME POINT OF ENTRY DEVICES.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH
PLANNING BUDGETS, FUNDING
APPLICATIONS, TRAINING AND
COMMUNITY EDUCATION. AS WELL AS
CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
LIKE CONSOLIDATIONS OR THE
DRILLING OF NEW WELLS. AS A
BRIEF SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF OUR
TRIBAL DRINKING WATER PROJECTS.
HERE'S A BRIEF OVERVIEW. WE ARE
CURRENTLY WORKING WITH 15 TRIBES
ON 22 PROJECTS. OF THOSE 15
TRIBES. NINE OF THOSE TRIBES ARE
RECEIVING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,
AND FIVE TRIBES HAVE FULLY
EXECUTED FUNDING AGREEMENTS.
BRINGING US TO A LITTLE OVER
FOUR MILLION. TOTAL FUNDING
CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTED TO TRIBES
FOR DRINKING WATER PROJECTS. ONE
THING I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE
DATA ON THIS SLIDE IS THAT SOME
OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE
SUPPORTING. WE'RE SUPPORTING
THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICE, WHICH IS AN
EXAMPLE OF HOW WE PARTNER WITH
FEDERAL AGENCIES TO FILL IN
FUNDING GAPS TO ADVANCE SAFE
DRINKING WATER. ANOTHER THING I
WANT TO CLARIFY ABOUT THE DATA
ON THIS SLIDE IS THAT THESE
NUMBERS ONLY INCLUDE TRIBAL
WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE REGULATED
BY U. S. E P. A. THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER
SYSTEMS THAT ARE REGULATED BY
THE STATE WATER BOARD, AND WE'RE
STILL WORKING TO FIND BETTER
WAYS TO CAPTURE AND SHARE THIS
DATA. THE THIRD KEY PROGRAM. I
WANT TO, UM, OVERVIEW GIVE AN
OVERVIEW ON IS OUR TRIBAL
BENEFICIAL USES WORK. SO SINCE
TIME IMMEMORIAL, CALIFORNIA
NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES HAVE USED
WATER TO SUPPORT THEIR CULTURAL,
SPIRITUAL, CEREMONIAL AND
TRADITIONAL RIGHTS. OVER THE
PAST DECADE, THE WATER BOARDS
HAS WORKED COLLABORATIVELY
COLLABORATIVELY, WHICH TRIBES,
TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS AND TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP AND
DEFINED TRIBAL BENEFICIAL USES.
TRIBAL BENEFICIAL USES ARE A WAY
THAT WE CAN PROTECT WATER
QUALITY THAT CONSIDERS SPECIFIC
USES THAT TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
USED WATER. THEY ARE
INCORPORATED INTO REGIONAL
WATERBOARD BASIN PLANS AND
WITHIN THESE BASIN PLANS,
THERE'S A DESCRIPTION OF HOW
EACH REGION WILL PROTECT WATER
QUALITY FOR THE SPECIFIC WATER
BODIES OF THEIR REGION. SO FOR
EACH WATER BODY WITHIN A REGION
, WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES ARE
DEVELOPED DEPENDING ON HOW THAT
WATER IS USED. SO FOR EXAMPLE,
BENEFICIAL USES FOR RECREATIONAL
SWIMMING HAVE A STRICTER WATER
QUALITY OBJECTIVES IN COMPARISON
TO WATER THAT'S USED FOR
NAVIGATION BY BOAT. SO EACH
REGIONAL WATERBOARD IS AT A
DIFFERENT STAGE OF INCORPORATING
TRIBAL BENEFICIAL USES INTO
THEIR BASIC PLAN. AND THROUGH
THIS PROCESS, THE WATER BOARDS
IS RELYING ON THE EXPERTISE AND
LEADERSHIP OF TRIBES, TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
ORGANIZATIONS AS WE WORK
TOGETHER TO PROTECT WATER FOR
TRIBAL, CULTURAL RESOURCES AND
SUBSISTENCE PURPOSES. THERE'S A
LINK ON THE SLIDE WITH MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE EACH OF
THE REGIONAL WATER BOARDS ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF INCORPORATING
TRIBAL BENEFICIAL USES IN THEIR
BASIN PLAN. THE LAST KEY PROGRAM
I WANT TO MENTION IS OUR SURFACE
WATER ON THE MONITORING PROGRAM
. THIS IS AN UMBRELLA PROGRAM
THAT IS FOCUSED ON MONITORING
AND EVALUATING SURFACE WATER
QUALITY. WITHIN THIS UMBRELLA
PROGRAM. THERE ARE FIVE SPECIFIC
MONITORING PROGRAMS THAT MEASURE
THE LEVEL OF CONTAMINATION AND
FISH TISSUE. FRESHWATER, HARMFUL
ALGAL BLOOMS. THE LEVELS OF
CONTAMINATION AND INSECTS, ALGAE
AND HABITATS. THE LEVELS OF
CONTAMINATION AND IN STREAM
SEDIMENTS. AND REGION SPECIFIC
MONITORING. FOR THIS SURFACE
WATER AMBIENT MONITORING PROGRAM
. WE HAVE DEVELOPED THE TRIBAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT IS
PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND FEEDBACK
ON OUR APPROACH TO MEASURING BIO
ACCUMULATION. WE ALSO WORK AND
SUPPORT A NUMBER OF TRIBAL
MONITORING PROGRAMS, SO WE ARE
AVAILABLE TO TRIBES WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN STARTING THEIR OWN
MONITORING PROGRAMS AND ARE IN
NEED OF TECHNICAL OR FINANCIAL
SUPPORT. AND ON OUR FINAL SLIDE
. I WANT TO INCLUDE SOME
INFORMATION AROUND HOW TO
CONTACT US, INCLUDING MY EMAIL,
MY CELLPHONE AND A LIST OF
RESOURCES WITH WEB PAGES WITH
MORE INFORMATION. UM TO WRAP UP.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR YOUR TIME, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH YOU ALL AND TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WANT TO
SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
QUESTIONS FOR THIS PANEL. SOME
OF THEM ARE SMITH. JUST ACTUALLY
THAT PRESENTATION, I WROTE WROTE
DOWN ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT
WEBSITES AND DIFFERENT LINKS.
BUT IF WE CAN GET A COPY OF THAT
PRESENTATION FOR ALL OF US, I
THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
YEAH, WE CAN GET COMMITTEE TO
SEND THAT OUT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. YEAH. MR MANTEI, ISN'T IT?
YES THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
PRESENTATION. I NOTICED ON ONE
OF THE SLIDES. YOU ARE LISTING
OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT UH, FIVE
DIFFERENT TRIBES THAT HAD FULLY
FUNDED AGREEMENTS. ARE YOU ABLE
TO SHARE WHICH TRIBES? THOSE
ARE? UM NOT AT THIS TIME, BUT WE
COULD WE COULD CIRCLE BACK WITH
MORE INFORMATION. ONCE WE
CONNECT WITH THOSE TRIBES AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE
COMFORTABLE WITH A SHOWING THAT
AND THEN ON THE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, HOW CAN WE BE
SUPPORTIVE ON YOU KNOW WHAT TYPE
OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS
NEEDED? MHM EACH TRIBAL WATER
SYSTEM HAS THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL
NEEDS. SO FOR SOME, THEY MAY
NEED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN
DEVELOPING FUNDING APPLICATIONS
. SOME MAY NEED TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE. DEVELOPING PLANNING
FOR A FUTURE CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT. SOME MANY TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE DOING WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS. AND SOME
NEED ONGOING OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE SUPPORT. SO THE WAY
THAT THE SAFER PROGRAM WORKS IS
WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH EACH
TRIBAL WATER SYSTEM TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS AND TO
DEVELOP A PLAN TOGETHER. AND
JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. I
KNOW AS CHAIR OF THE JOBS
COMMITTEE. WE OFTEN WORK WITH
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS BECAUSE
THERE IS A LOT OF TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO WIN. FOLKS
ARE APPLYING FOR GRANTS, AND WE
KNOW THAT IT'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED
WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING FOR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. LOVE TO,
YOU KNOW, HAVE FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS ON WHERE PERHAPS WE
COULD BE HELPFUL IN THAT MATTER.
YEAH WE WOULD LOVE TO FOLLOW UP
ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR WARDEN. THANK YOU WANNA
THANK EVERYONE FOR THE
PRESENTATIONS FROM THE
BACKGROUND COMING INTO THIS
PANEL? I WAS REALLY HOPING TO
GET A GOOD SENSE AS WE THINK
ABOUT WATER PLANNING AND
MANAGEMENT FROM THE TOTAL PIE
THAT WE HAVE ACROSS OUR STATE,
OUR STATEWIDE MASTER PLANNING AS
WELL A YOU KNOW THE INTEGRATED
PLANS, THE REGIONAL PLANS THE
URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS
THAT THERE WAS TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT
OR AT LEAST THERE WAS A GOOD
EFFORT TO BE ABLE TO CONSULT AND
TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND
INCORPORATE THAT FEEDBACK AT ALL
THESE LEVELS AND IT SOUNDS LIKE
THAT IS GENERALLY WELL PRESENT,
AND I'M WONDER. BRING YOU KNOW
AS THIS HAS BEEN INTENTIONAL AND
REALLY IMPROVED OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF DECADES. ARE YOU STILL
SEEING ANY? UM YOU KNOW GAPS
TODAY THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE
TO DO A BETTER JOB. WE NEED TO
DO A BETTER JOB. IN OUR
PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT AND
CONSULTATION. AND HOW ARE YOU
FEELING ABOUT THE LEVEL OF
TRIBAL INPUT, UM, TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT IS SUFFICIENT TO BE ABLE
TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. MISS
AGOSTINA IS YOU WANT TO START?
YES. WORK FOR TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT
. I THINK THAT WHEN THERE'S
LEGISLATION THAT IS, UM,
DEDICATED FOR ANY PROGRAM, ANY
WATER RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM MULTI BENEFIT THAT YOU
THINK ABOUT TRIBAL SET ASIDES
THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY NOT ONLY
FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS BUT ALSO
FOR CAPACITY AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE. WE OFTENTIMES HAVE
GRANT PROGRAMS THAT SAY YES,
TRIBES ARE ELIGIBLE, AND
ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROP. ONE
WATER BOND FUNDING IN 2014. THAT
WAS A WATERMARK YEAR. TOP ONE
WATER BOND FUNDING WAS THE FIRST
TIME THAT STATE LEGISLATION
SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS WERE ELIGIBLE
GRANTEES PRIOR TO THAT ANY WATER
BOND FUNDING TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
HAD TO BE A SUB GRANTEE THROUGH
A LOCAL REGIONAL AUTHORITY
THROUGH INTEGRATED WATER
MANAGEMENT AND TRIBES WERE NOT
COMFORTABLE BEING SUB
SUBSERVIENT TO A LOCAL COUNTY
AND THAT CREATED OBSTACLES FOR
TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT. SO A SET
ASIDE DIRECTLY FOR TRAVEL
GOVERNMENT AND EVEN THINKING
ABOUT NOT ONLY THROUGH A GRANT
PROGRAM BUT DIRECT TRIBAL
FUNDING. IF YOU HAVE FUNDING FOR
WATERS THAT'S GOING TO GO TO
LOCAL REGIONALS THINK ABOUT
HAVING FUNDING THAT WOULD GO
DIRECTLY TO TRIBES FOR THAT
CAPACITY, AND THEN IT'S
RESTRICTIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT
CAN BE DONE UNDER THE WATER
CODE, SINCE TRIBES ARE NOT
CONSIDERED A PUBLIC AGENCY OR
PURVEYOR WATER THAT HAS ALSO
BEEN A OBSTACLE IN TERMS OF THE
ACTUAL DEFINITION OF WHO IS A
WATER AGENCY UNDER THE WATER
CODE, AND THAT IS THERE HAS BEEN
A HARD STOP ON MANY OF OUR GRANT
FUNDING PROGRAMS. THE DEPARTMENT
OF WATER RESOURCES, UM, ALSO IN
TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU
TALKED EARLIER. UM UM UM,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REGARDING, UM
AND I THINK IT WAS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S COOPER
MENTIONED, UM, WHEN HE BEGAN
EARLY IN HIS CAREER, TALKING
ABOUT WATER, INFRASTRUCTURE,
STORM DAMAGE AND RESERVOIRS AND
HOW THOSE PROJECTS ARE NOT BEING
IMPLEMENTED, AND WE DO KNOW
GIVEN CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY OF
DROUGHT AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
MANAGEMENT. THERE IS A DEMAND
FOR WATER STORAGE, BUT TYPICALLY
, WATER STORAGE IS USUALLY ON
TRIBAL LANDS WITHOUT LOCAL
CONSULTATION. AWARE THOSE
PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE PROP.
ONE ALSO FUNDED THE CALIFORNIA
WATER COMMISSION FOR THE WATER
STORAGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM. AND
OF THOSE SEVEN PROJECTS. THERE
WAS A LEGISLATIVE TIE THAT THE
WATER STORAGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM
OF $2.7 BILLION HAD TO HAVE A
50. PUBLIC BENEFIT AND 50% TIE
INTO THE DELTA THAT EXCLUDED
PRACTICALLY ALL TRIBES IN
CALIFORNIA FROM BEING ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN WATER STORAGE
INVESTMENT PROGRAMS OUT OF THAT
PROBLEM. WATER POND FENDING
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. I
JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF
COMMENTS THIS YEAR. SOME OF YOU
SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO INCREASE
THE AMOUNT IN THE SAFER PROGRAM
THAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED. WE
ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL $200
MILLION. IT WOULD GO
SPECIFICALLY, UM, FOR A SET
ASIDE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS WHO
ARE WORKING IN COLLABORATION
WITH OTHER WATER SYSTEMS, UH, IN
CALIFORNIA. NOW, THAT WASN'T A
REQUIREMENT BUT CERTAINLY AN
INCENTIVE TO TRY TO INTEGRATE
OUR WATER SYSTEM UP AND DOWN.
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE
FIRST ATTEMPT WAS TO HAVE A 10%
SET ASIDE FROM THE EXISTING $130
MILLION THAT THE SAFER PROGRAM,
UM PUTS FORWARD EVERY SINGLE
YEAR FOR SAFETY AND DRINKING
WATER, BUT IT JUST MADE MORE
SENSE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT TO
MAKE SURE THAT RIBAL
GOVERNMENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE
DOLLARS. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
THAT THE DEPARTMENT SAID. TO US
THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS AN
ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE ACTUAL
WATER NEED IS AN INDIAN COUNTRY
. UH SIMILARLY TO THE SAFER
PROGRAM. THERE WAS AN ASSESSMENT
UP AND DOWN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA THAT DETERMINED THAT
THEY WERE CLOSE TO A MILLION
PEOPLE WITHOUT SAFE, CLEAN
DRINKING WATER. CALIFORNIA SOY,
VERY SIMILAR APPROACH HAS BEEN
ASKED TO BE TAKEN, AND I THOUGHT
MAYBE THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE
TO GO TO GIVE A STATUS UPDATE ON
THAT MANY OF YOU DID SIGN ON TO
SUPPORT BOTH THE BUDGET ASK AND
THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PUT
FORWARD SO I JUST WANTED TO
RECOGNIZE SOME OF YOUR WORK ON
THIS AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THAT. REMEMBER,
GARCIA, I HAVE A FOLLOW UP
QUESTION TO WHAT YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT. UM, MISS AGOSTINA
IS ABOUT GRAND FUNDING. IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMETIMES OR
MAYBE ALL THE TIME TRIBES HAVE
TO GIVE A LIMITED WAIVER OF
SOVEREIGNTY IN ORDER TO RECEIVE
THAT GRANT FUNDING. CAN YOU TALK
ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS? WHAT ARE
THEY WAVING? IT'S IT FEELS LIKE
AN INTENSE THING FOR US AS A
STATE TO ASK THEM. TO WAIVE
SOVEREIGNTY IN ORDER TO RECEIVE
THOSE GRANT FUNDS. RIGHT.
THERE'S A THERE'S A YOU KNOW,
TYPICALLY WITH ANY GRANT PROGRAM
, UM, THERE IS A FEELING AS A
STATE REPRESENTATIVE THAT YOU'RE
HAVING TO PROTECT PUBLIC MONIES
AND THAT REQUIRING A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TRIBAL GOVERNMENT TO
DO A LIMITED WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN
IMMUNITY, BUT MAJORITY OF GRANT
PROGRAMS OR COST REIMBURSEMENT,
AND SO MANY TRIBES ARE SAYING
WHAT WHAT? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE
OF THIS LIMITED WAIVER,
SOVEREIGN UNITY? THERE'S THE
STATE WHEN IT'S DOING
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS WITH A
COUNTY ARE THEY REQUIRING THAT
LOCAL COUNTY OR THAT REGIONAL
AUTHORITY TO HAVE A LIMITED
WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY?
AND SO THAT IS OUR GRANT
PROGRAMS ARE FORMS AND STATE
GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED
THROUGH DGS, AND WE INHERIT
THOSE AS STATE AGENCIES AND
STATE DEPARTMENTS. AND WE HAVE
TO REALLY BE CREATIVE WITH THE
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND, UM
AMENDING AS PART MUCH AS
POSSIBLE, PUTTING LANGUAGE OF
MUTUAL RECIPROCITY IN TERMS OF
WHEN A GRANT PROGRAM BEGINS AND
STARTS. UM, SOMETIMES A TRIBAL
RELUCTANTLY SIGNED A LIMITED
WAIVER SOME IMMUNITY BECAUSE
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN
EMERGENCY FOR THEIR TRIBE, AND
THERE'S NO OTHER FUNDING
AVAILABLE WITH THE HOPE AND
UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR STATE
PROCESSES WILL CATCH UP. TO THE
21ST CENTURY OF DEALING WITH OUR
TRIBAL SOVEREIGN PARTNERS
BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH STATE
FUNDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
GENERAL SERVICES THAT DO NOT
EVEN STATE. UM THE BOX THAT YOU
HAVE TO CHECK FOR STATE
CONTRACTING ARE ONLY DEVELOPED
FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND LOCAL
AGENCIES AND NOT FOR TRIBAL
STATE GOVERNMENTS. AND I'M
HOPING AND DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES. WE'VE BEGUN
DISCUSSIONS WITH DGS, BUT THAT'S
A LONG PROCESS. AND I'M HOPING
THAT THERE COULD BE LEGISLATIVE
SUPPORT AND LOOKING AT THE TOP
LEVEL OF ALL OUR STATE FUNDING
FORMS ARE VENDOR FORMS THAT DO
NOT ALLOW TRIBES WHO MAY HAVE
TRIBAL UM THE, UM, DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATIONS WHO COULD BECOME
STATE PARTNERS AS A CONTRACTOR
AND ALLOWING THERE BE AN EASIER
ACCESS FOR THAT TYPE OF NOT ONLY
TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDS BUT TO BE
ALSO THE IMPLEMENTER OF STATE
WATER. UM UM, FUNDING FUNDING
VEHICLES. THANK YOU. AND
OBVIOUSLY, OVERSIGHT IS
IMPORTANT. BUT I KNOW UNDER MR
GARCIA'S LEADERSHIP IS PRIOR
CHAIR. WE ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS
AROUND WATER WITH FOREIGN
NATIONS LIKE MEXICO AS WELL AND
DO SO WITH OVERSIGHT AND
RESPONSIBLE DEALINGS THAT DON'T
REQUIRE THOSE NATIONS TO WAIVE
SOVEREIGNTY. AND SO I THINK THE
SAME RESPECT IS DUE TO AND IT
COMES FROM THE HISTORICAL
FEDERAL PRACTICE THAT GOT TRIBES
ARE WARDS OF THE STATE, AND THAT
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BUREAU OF
INDIAN AFFAIRS AS A TRUSTEE, AND
SO OH, THAT'S THESE ARE ALL
ANTIQUATED COLONIAL
TERMINOLOGIES THAT WE HAVE
ADOPTED THROUGH STATE POLICIES.
YEAH THANK YOU. UM AND I WILL
FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR MR
BERGSTROM. ARE YOU STILL ON THE
LINE, MR BERGSTROM? IF HE'S
STILL THERE. OKAY GREAT. SO WE
HEARD, UM MR CHAIRMAN, HUNTER
TALK ABOUT TERMINATION OF HIS
TRIBAL OF HIS TRIBE, THE LOSS OF
THEIR TRIBAL LANDS. AND I KNOW
THAT STORY IS NOT UNIQUE TO HIS
TRIBE HERE IN CALIFORNIA, AND
I'M WONDERING HOW THAT INTERACTS
WITH THE WATER RIGHTS. YOU SPOKE
OF THE WINTERS RIGHT? SO FOR A
TRIBE SUCH AS CHAIRMAN HUNTERS
WHERE THEY LOST THEIR LAND, THEY
WERE TERMINATED. THEY HAVE
PURCHASED NEW LAND. IT SEEMS AS
IF THEIR WATER RIGHTS MIGHT NOT
BE AS STRONG. TIME IN MEMORIAL
IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE THOSE LANDS
ARE NEW TO THE TRIBE, DESPITE
THE FACT THAT THE LOSS OF LAND
WAS REALLY? THE NATION'S FAULT.
SO I GUESS IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO
THAT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE
CHAIRMAN HUNTERS. YOU KNOW THE
PARTICULAR SITUATIONS THERE SO I
WOULD HATE TO, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
HAZARD A GUESS AT HOW THINGS
WOULD WORK THERE. I DO. YOU
KNOW, IN ONE EXPERIENCE, I CAN
TELL YOU JUST NORTH OF THE
BORDER WITH YOU ALL THE KLAMATH
TRIBES AND SOUTHERN OREGON WERE
ALSO ONE OF THE TERMINATED
TRIBES BACK IN THE 19 FIFTIES.
AH NOW I KNOW THROUGH SOME OF
THEIR TERMINATION. THERE WAS
ALSO, YOU KNOW, RECOGNITION IN
THE I BELIEVE THE TERMINATION
STATUTE THAT THEY'RE HUNTING,
FISHING AND GATHERING RIGHTS
WOULD CONTINUE NOTWITHSTANDING
TERMINATION AND SOME OTHER
THINGS, EVEN THOUGH THEY LOST
ALL OF THEIR LANDS. SO AS PART
OF THAT, I DO KNOW THROUGH, YOU
KNOW COURT CASES. KIMBLE V.
CALLAHAN ORIGINALLY IN THE 19
SEVENTIES THAN US VIA DARE.
SPECIFICALLY INVOLVING THE
KLAMATH TRIBES RECOGNIZE THAT
BECAUSE THOSE RIGHTS CONTINUED
TO EXIST ASSOCIATED WATER RIGHTS
UNDER THE WINTER STOCK TRINE
WITH A TIME IMMEMORIAL. PRIORITY
DID CONTINUE FOR THE KLAMATH
TRIBES WERE. WE'VE CURRENTLY
WORK CURRENTLY IN THE
ADJUDICATION AND IN SOUTHERN
OREGON AND ON THE KLAMATH BASIN.
FOR THE KLAMATH DRIVES, AS WELL
AS OTHER FEDERAL INTERESTS ON
THE OREGON SIDE OF THE BORDER,
AND WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN
ASSERTING THOSE CLAIMS ON BEHALF
OF THE KLAMATH TRIBES AND IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE CLIMATE
THRIVES, UH, TO CONFIRM THAT
THEIR TIME AND MORE OIL RIGHTS
CONTINUE. THE PARTICULARS OF
COYOTE VALLEY AND ALL OF THAT, I
pKLAMATH WOULD GIVE A GOOD
EXAMPLE OR IF THERE WOULD BE YOU
KNOW SOME SOME PROBLEMS THAT WE
WOULD HAVE TO EXPLORE. BUT I
AGREE WITH YOU IT I ASSUME THAT
IT RAISES SOME CONCERNS, AND WE
WOULD HAVE TO EXPLORE EXACTLY
HOW THE TERMINATION HAPPENED.
YOU KNOW, IN IN ESSENTIALLY THE
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS RELATED TO
THE ORIGINAL RESERVATION. AS
WELL AS TO HOW YOU KNOW LANDS
HAVE BEEN SUBSEQUENTLY ACQUIRED
TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW WE
WOULD, YOU KNOW, TRY TO WORK
WITH THE COYOTE VALLEY BOMB. OH
TO SECURE THEIR WATER RIGHTS. I
MYSELF
ME THAT WHETHER THOSE RIGHTS
WERE FOR TIME AND MEMORIAL IS
DEPENDENT ON DETERMINATION
DOCUMENT, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT
TERMINATION DOCUMENT HAS A
HISTORY THAT IS INCREDIBLY WRONG
, AND SO I THINK THAT IT IS THE
RIGHT THING FOR THE NATION TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE FIRST PEOPLE'S
RIGHTS TO TIME MEMORIAL, DESPITE
THE FACT THAT THOSE DOCUMENTS
RIPPING THEM OF THEIR RIGHTS
DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT. IF THAT
IS THE CASE, ALTHOUGH, OF COURSE
I DON'T KNOW THE CASE EITHER.
AND THEN MY QUESTION, SO MY
FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE
SETTLEMENTS, AND I'VE HEARD FROM
MANY OF OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS HERE
IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'VE SAID, AND WHAT WE'VE
HEARD HERE TODAY THAT IT COULD
TAKE DECADES. OF NEGOTIATION TO
TRY TO GET THEIR WATER RIGHTS,
WHICH, AS AN ATTORNEY, I THINK,
pWAS A LONG TIME AND THEN I HEAR
ABOUT THESE 15 YEARS AND IT'S
SHOCKING TO ME 60 YEARS. IT'S
SHOCKING TO ME THAT IT'S TAKING
THAT LONG. AND I GUESS YOU KNOW
AS A PARTNER GOVERNMENT IS THERE
SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO HELP
SPEED UP THAT PROCESS TO GET
THESE TRIBES THEIR RIGHTS?
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I DON'T
KNOW IF I HAVE A PERFECT ANSWER
FOR YOU. UM I DO KNOW THAT WE
HAVE SUCCESSFULLY, UH. EXTENDED
YOU KNOW AND QUANTIFIED AND
RESOLVED INDIAN WATER RIGHTS OF
FOR MOST, IF NOT ALL TRIBES AND
OTHER WESTERN STATES, MONTANA
AND ARIZONA ARE GOOD EXAMPLES OF
THAT MONTANA ITSELF HAS A
RESERVED WATER RIGHTS COMPACT
COMMISSION, ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE
IT MAY HAVE SUNSET IN BUT IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT MONTANA MONTANA
LEGISLATURE ENACTED IN THE LATE
19 SEVENTIES TO ESSENTIALLY KICK
OFF BOTH THE STATEWIDE
ADJUDICATION PROCESS, BUT ALSO
TO HAVE A STATE BODY THAT
FOCUSED ON TRYING TO RESOLVE
FEDERAL RESERVED WATER RIGHTS,
NOT ONLY FOR THE VARIOUS INDIAN
TRIBES IN RESERVATIONS IN THE
STATE OF MONTANA, BUT ALSO FOR
THE NON FEDERAL INDIAN, NON
FEDERAL NON INDIAN FEDERAL
RESERVATIONS IN MONTANA AS WELL
AND OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES.
WE'VE PRETTY MUCH HAVE UH, STATE
COMPACTS THAT ENACTED BY ENACTED
BY THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE AND
THEN COMPANION FEDERAL
LEGISLATION THAT HAS RESOLVED
MOST OF THAT. BUT AS YOU SAY IT
TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO IRON
THESE OUT. I MEAN,
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE OVER 570
FEDERAL RECOGNIZED TRIBES. I
BELIEVE 100 AND NINE IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE ONLY
HAVE THREE DOZEN OR SO INDIAN
WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENTS AND
ONLY A HANDFUL OF FULLY
ADJUDICATED WATER RIGHTS. IT
TAKES A LOT OF RESOURCES. AS YOU
HEARD FROM MISS AUGUST AUGUST,
ENAS NOT ONLY ON THE STATE SIDE
BUT ALSO ON THE FEDERAL SIDE
FINANCIALLY, AS WELL AS STAFF
WISE TO TRY TO DEVELOP THE
CLAIMS WORK WITH THE TRIBES,
HAND AND GLOVE, ASSERT THE
CLAIMS IN AN APPROPRIATE FORUM
AND OR HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK
WITH ALL THE BASIN INTERESTS WHO
ARE AFFECTED TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE
A SETTLEMENT TO RESOLVE THESE
UM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES WE
THE HISTORY IS, YOU KNOW, 23
DECADES, UH, IS NOT UNCOMMON.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF
SETTLEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
RESOLVED SHORTER THAN A DECADE.
BUT THE AMIT LITIGATION IN THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO THAT WAS
ABOUT A 60 YEAR PROCESS FROM THE
BEGINNING OF THE ADJUDICATION TO
ULTIMATE SETTLEMENT. NOW THERE
WAS A LOT OF DEAD SPACE IN
BETWEEN WHERE THINGS WEREN'T
HAPPENING EITHER IN THE
LITIGATION OR THE SETTLEMENT
ITSELF. WELL THAT'S A THANK YOU
FOR THAT. I THINK THAT THE
MONTANA PRECEDENT WILL BE
INTERESTING FOR US TO LOOK AT.
YES R MAJORITY LEADER HAS SOME
QUESTIONS COMMENT. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. I WANTED TO GO BACK
TO A QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CERVANTES ON
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. I FIND
THAT HERE AS IN SO MANY OTHER
GRANT PROGRAMS. TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS A PART OF A
GRANT AND PART OF THE MONEY THAT
IS OFFERED OFTENTIMES DOESN'T GO
TO THE VERY PEOPLE WHO MOST NEED
IT. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT IS
BEING DONE TO REACH OUT TO THE
SMALLER TRIBES TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE AWARE THAT TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THEM
SO THAT THEY CAN THEN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS
AVAILABLE? YEAH THANK YOU. SO
MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTION. SO LIKE
I MENTIONED OVER THE LAST YEAR
WE THE STATE WATER BOARD HAS
BEEN WORKING IN IN COLLABORATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
AND INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, AS
WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES AND THROUGH THIS
COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP,
WE HAVE WORKED WITH U. S C. P A
TO APPLY THE METHODOLOGY THAT WE
USE FOR OUR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
TO IDENTIFY NEEDS. THEY APPLY IT
TO THE TRIBAL WATER SYSTEMS THAT
THEY REGULATE AND OVERSEE. AND
THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A COUPLE
OF TRIBAL WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE
EITHER NOT MEETING SAFE DRINKING
WATER STANDARDS OR ARE
STRUGGLING WITH DROUGHT SUPPLY
VULNERABILITY OR ARE STRUGGLING
WITH ONGOING OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE CAPACITY. AND
THROUGH OUR COORDINATION, WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO NARROW THAT DOWN
AND WE'VE THE STATE WATER BOARD
HAS REACHED OUT TO THOSE TRIBES
TO LET THEM KNOW OF AVAILABLE
FUNDING SOURCES AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH BOTH
THE STATE WATER BOARD AND U. S.
C P A TOGETHER TO DISCUSS
AVAILABLE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
AND FUNDING ASSISTANCE. SO
THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE
WAY THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR
FEDERAL AGENCIES TO HELP NARROW
DOWN AND IDENTIFY, WHICH ARE THE
WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN MOST
URGENT NEED OF SUPPORT. YES
THANK YOU LIKE TO ADD TO THAT IN
REGARDS TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES. I WOULD SAY THAT OUR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. UM UM UM,
OUTPUT HAS REALLY GOTTEN BETTER
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND
THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS THEMSELVES HAVE
DEVELOPED INTERNAL CAPACITY.
THEY'VE SEEN EDUCATION OF THEIR
OF THEIR OWN TRIBAL CITIZENS
COME BACK, COME BACK DEDICATED
TO WORK WITHIN THEIR GOVERNMENTS
. AND I'VE SEEN THAT HAS BEEN A
MAJOR MAJOR. UM ABILITY TO SEE
THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RISE.
BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT CAN A
DEPARTMENT DO WHEN WE HAVE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TYPICALLY
, A DEPARTMENT OR A STATE AGENCY
WILL FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM
FORM THAT OUT TO A LOCAL
NONPROFIT TO SAY YOU NOW ARE THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER
AND TRIBES STILL HAVE TO THEN
CONTRACT WITH THAT TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE PROVIDER VERSUS
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CAN GO
DIRECTLY TO THE TRIBES, AND THEY
CAN DETERMINE WHO WOULD BE THEIR
PROVIDERS OR AND THAT WOULD
ALLOW FOR CAPACITY BUILDING AND
I THINK OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
LANGUAGE COULD BE LIKE HAVING A
LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY. SO
THAT TRIBES CAN ALSO USE THAT
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP
INTERNAL CAPACITY, MEANING THAT
THEY COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE OR OTHER
APPRENTICESHIP APPROACH PROGRAMS
AND ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT
WE'VE SEEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE
EMERGENCY DROUGHT FUNDING IS THE
LACK OF WATER MANAGERS WITHIN A
TRIBE. UM WE HAD TO, UM, PUT OUT
$200 MILLION IN EMERGENCY
DROUGHT FUNDING AND WE WERE
EFFECTIVE AT SMALLER TRIBES, AND
THIS IS FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES OF
3000 HOOKUPS OR LESS. AND OUT OF
THE $200 MILLION. WE DID A SET
ASIDE OF $26 MILLION AND WE WERE
ABLE TO FUND 10 PROJECTS AND
THAT WAS A COMBINATION OF
CAPACITY AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND EMERGENCY DROUGHT
FUNDING, AND I REALLY THINK
FLEXIBILITY, ALLOWING A TRIBE TO
DETERMINE WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS
VERSUS HAVING A TRIBE HAVING TO
FIND OUT HOW TO PUT THEIR NEEDS
WITHIN A STATE GRANT PROGRAM,
AND THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY SEE A%
DISCONNECT. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT THAT YOU'RE AS A FOLLOW UP
MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THE COMMENTS ABOUT SOME OF WHAT
THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO. LANGUAGE
MATTERS AND YOU'RE RIGHT WHEN WE
HAVE NO ORGANIZATION, SOMEBODY
SUBSERVIENT TO THAT AND SOMEBODY
SUBSERVIENT TO THAT IT DOES
BECOME A PROBLEM. AND I THINK
THAT CLEARLY YOU'RE HEARING FROM
THE MEMBERS THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO
REMEDY. UH SO WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL
THAT YOU'LL E ABLE TO WORK WITH
WITH US, UM, TO CHANGE THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON
PANEL TWO. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL
CONCLUDE PANEL TWO AND MOVED TO
PANEL THREE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. PANEL THREE WILL BE WATER
RIGHTS AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS
FOR TRIBES. WE HAVE CHAIRMAN
FROM THE TOOLEY RIVER TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN PAYROLL IN
WE ALSO HAVE FROM THE BARONA
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN
RAYMOND WELSH. AND ALSO, UM,
CHAIRWOMAN TO FOLLOW ME. TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT. ANDREA REICH, WHO I
BELIEVE IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY
SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY. UM TO
THE DIESS. CHAIRMAN PERRONE. HE
WILL HIGHLIGHT WATER ISSUES THAT
TRULY RIVER TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
EXPERIENCING. CHAIRMAN PAYROLL
AND BEGAN WORKING WITH THE
TOOLEY RIVER TRIBE IN 1998 AT
THE TWO LI RIVER TRIBE GAMING
COMMISSION AS A COMPLIANCE
OFFICER DURING HIS CAREER
CHAIRMAN HAS WORKED WITH
CALIFORNIA AND US GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS AS WELL AS OTHER
POLICY ADVOCACY GROUPS ON A WIDE
RANGE OF TRIBAL POLICY ISSUES.
THOSE ISSUES HAVE INCLUDED
INDIAN HEALTH, LAW ENFORCEMENT,
GAMING, FORESTRY AND WATER. HE
HAS ALSO WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH
OTHER TRIBES AND HIS REGION ON
INTER TRIBAL ISSUES SUCH AS THE
NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES
PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION ACT
AND GAMING ISSUES. WATER
CONTINUES TO BE AS HOT TOPIC IN
HIS COMMUNITY CHAIRMAN SYSTEM.
NEIL PERON. N THEY ARE NOW
YOUR KIDS ARE MAYAN. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS NEIL PARAN.
I'M THE CHAIRMAN OR THE TOOL
RIVER TRIBE. AND I'M FROM THE
HOLY RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION.
RAMOS. I WANT TO THANK YOU. FOR
GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. AND IF I GET A LITTLE BIT
OF EMOTIONAL I HOPE YOU
UNDERSTAND. MY PEOPLE HAVE
SUFFERED. SENSE. FOREVER THAT I
REMEMBER REGARDING WATER. SO
THIS IS A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE
FOR ME. AND, UH I HOPE YOU CAN
UNDERSTAND. BUT I DO WANT TO
THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO BE
RESPECTFUL BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE
HERE TRYING TO HELP US AND
ASSIST US AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY VICE
CHAIRMAN. CHINESE TO AND THE
SECRETARY OF THE TRIBE. FRANKLIN
CARRY BEAR WHO ARE HERE TO
SUPPORT ME, TOO. SPEAK TO YOU
TODAY. SO. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIRMAN RAMOS, GERMAN
BAUER-KAHAN. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
AGAIN MY NAME IS NEIL PARAN. I'M
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TOOL OF THE
TRIBE. I WILL USE MY TIME TODAY
TO TALK ABOUT THE TOOLEY RIVERS,
DESPERATE DRINKING WATER
SHORTAGE AND ARE PENDING BUDGET
REQUEST IMMEDIATELY IMMEDIATELY
TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT DRINKING
WATER FOR OUR PEOPLE. EVERY
SHORTAGE OF DRINKING WATER IS AN
EXTREME CASE. BUT THERE ARE MANY
OTHER TRIBES IN CALIFORNIA WITH
pHISTORICALLY IGNORED BY THE
STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS. I
HOPE TODAY'S HEARING MOTIVATES
THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE TO
PROVIDE AN IMMEDIATE BUDGET
SOLUTION TO TULA RIVERS DRINKING
WATER NEEDS. I ALSO HOPE TODAY'S
HEARING CONTRIBUTES TO POLICIES
THAT HELP OTHER TRIBES INCLUDING
RECOGNIZING OUR TRIBAL WATER
RIGHTS. AND INCLUDING CALIFORNIA
TRIBES AS SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENTS
THAT PARTICIPATE AND SHARED
DECISION MAKING ON HOW TO USE
AND PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S WATER
RESOURCES. THE TRULY RIVER
PEOPLE USED THE ROOM. WE ARE YO
CUTS, YOUR CATS MEANS THE
PEOPLE. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY
63 BANDS OF YO CUTS OF WHICH
PRIMARILY A MAJORITY OF THOSE
LIVE ON THE CURRENT TOOLEY RIVER
INDIAN RESERVATION. THIS IS OUR
THIRD RESERVATION. IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. OUR PEOPLES
ABORIGINAL TERRITORY IF YOU
BELIEVE THE HISTORY BOOKS RANGED
FROM BAKERSFIELD UP ABOVE
STOCKTON INTO THE DELTA AREA OF
MOUNTAIN RANGE TO MOUNTAIN
RANGE. TODAY WE ARE REDUCED TO
AN 84 MILE PRESERVATION. WHERE
WE CURRENTLY LIVE. OUR FIRST
RESERVATION. WAS IN 18 54 55.
SEBASTIAN RESERVATION DOWN
BELOW. BAKERSFIELD. WE'RE FORKED
HORNS. SOMETHING HAPPENED THERE.
WASN'T RIGHT. WE GOT MOVED. WE
GOT MOVED AGAIN TO THE CITY OF
PORTERVILLE, EAST PORTERVILLE.
THE MADDEN FARM OF THE TOOLEY
RIVER FARM. HE WAS TRIBAL LABOR
TO MAKE THAT A VERY PROFITABLE
FARM. THE PERSON WHO WAS
SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US PATENTED
THAT LAND IN HIS OWN NAME, WAS
RENTING IT BACK TO THE UNITED
STATES FOR US TO LIVE ON. THEN
THEY DIDN'T WANT US THERE
ANYMORE. SO WE GOT MOVED AGAIN.
18 73 TO OUR CURRENT
RESERVATION. JANUARY 9TH OF NEXT
YEAR. THERE ARE CURRENT
RESERVATION WILL BE 150 YEARS
OLD. SO THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON
FOR A WHILE. IN 18 76. THEY GOT
TIRED OF US BECAUSE SOME OF US
WOULD NOT MOVE THEM FROM THE
MADDEN FARM. SO WHEN WE MOVED AT
GUNPOINT FORCIBLY MOVED TO THE
18 73 RESERVATION. IT'S A
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL
RESERVATION. DON'T GET ME WRONG.
YOU KNOW, IT RANGES FROM
ELEVATION FROM 900 FT TO JUST
OVER 7600 FT AT OUR HIGHEST
POINT, WHICH IS PARKER PEAK ON
THE SOUTH. EAST CORNER OF THE
RESERVATION. RESERVATION GETS
ITS NAME FROM THE SOUTH FORK
TOOLEY RIVER, WHICH IS THE
SMALLEST OF THE THREE UH, FORKS
OF THE TOOLEY RIVER THAT RUNS
THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE
RESERVATION. THEY TALK ABOUT
WINTERS, DOCTRINE RIGHTS. WELL.
IN 1922. THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT DECIDED THAT ALONG
WITH THE DOWNSTREAM USERS THAT
MY PEOPLE WERE WASTEFUL. THEY
GAVE THAT RIGHT AWAY. SO WE HAVE
NO RIGHT. I CAN TAKE WHAT I WHAT
I NEED TODAY TO DRINK. BUT I
CAN'T STORE ANYTHING FOR
TOMORROW. MY PEOPLE ARE OUT OF
WATER TODAY. YOU KNOW, MY KIDS
SCHOOL IS GETTING READY TO START
ON. MY KID'S GONNA BE ABLE TO GO
TO SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
GONNA BE ABLE TO BATHE. THEY'RE
NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO COOK THEM
NOT TO BE ABLE TO WASH THEIR
CLOTHES. AND I GOT TO REMIND
MYSELF THAT YOU'RE HERE TO HELP.
AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU. I HAVE
1955 MEMBERS. THAT WE ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING AND
MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE TAKING
CARE OF AND THEY HAVE SERVICES.
AND. THERE ARE 362 HOMES ON THE
RESERVATION THAT ARE SERVED BY
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES DOMESTIC
PLANT THAT WHEN IT WAS BUILT, IT
WAS DESIGNED FOR 62 HOMES. THERE
WERE 300 HOMES OVER THAT LIMIT.
AND 14 COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. I
WAS ASKED A GOOD QUESTION THE
OTHER DAY WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THIS, UM YOU KNOW, ARE YOU
GUYS IN THE GAMING? YES, WE ARE.
AND THAT MONEY PAYS FOR SCHOOL
EDUCATION FOR OUR KIDS THAT WANT
TO GO TO COLLEGE. IT PAYS 100%
OF THE TRIBES POLICE FORCE. IT
PAYS CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS
FOR THE TRIBES AMBULANCE SERVICE
BECAUSE WHERE WE LIVE, IT CAN
TAKE UP TO AN HOUR AND 45
MINUTES TO GET A LAW ENFORCEMENT
OR MEDICAL RESPONSE. AND THERE'S
NO CELL SERVICE ON OUR
RESERVATION. SO. WELL THE SOUTH
FORK PROVIDES A TOOL SOUTH PARK
OF THE TELLER PROVIDES
SUFFICIENT DRINKING WATER FOR
PEOPLE DURING THE WET SEASON. IT
RUNS DRYER CLOSE TO DRY EACH
SUMMER. WHEN I WAS A CHILD THAT
WAS BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF MAY
AND AUGUST THEN THE RAINS WOULD
START. NOW. IT STARTS IN APRIL
AND RUNS UNTIL OCTOBER,
SOMETIMES IN THE NOVEMBER AND
SOMETIMES IN THE WERE LOCATED
INTO LARRY COUNTY. AND, UH,
SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET RAIN TILL
NOVEMBER, DECEMBER JANUARY.
THERE IS NO SNOW PACK. THE TRIBE
GETS 60% OF ITS POTABLE WATER
FROM THE SOUTH FORK TOOLEY
RIVER. THE OTHER 40% COMES FROM
FRACTURED AQUIFERS THROUGHOUT
THE RESERVATION. WE GOTTA HOPE
WE FIND A WELL OR WE HOPE WE
FIND WATER WHEN WE WHEN WE DRILL
THEN WE GOTTA HOPE IT DOESN'T
HAVE ARSENIC, MANGANESE OR OTHER
OTHER CONTAMINANTS IN IT, SO
IT'S SAFE TO DRINK. I DO WANT TO
THANK THE STATE. YOU DID PROVIDE
US WITH SOME EMERGENCY FUNDING
FOR WHAT WE CALL THE BLACK
MOUNTAIN WELL. THAT'S AN
EMERGENCY. WHILE THAT GOES IN,
IT'S EXPENSIVE TO RUN BECAUSE IT
DOES HAVE THOSE CONTAMINANTS.
THAT'S WATER WE WOULDN'T
OTHERWISE HAVE. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT. DURING THESE MONTHS ARE
LEADERSHIP MUST CALL UPON. THE
RED CROSS, CALIFORNIA REALLY
INDIAN HEALTH BOARD, INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICES B I A OUR
SISTER, TRIBES AND BROTHER
TRIBES ASKING THEM. CAN YOU MAKE
DONATIONS OF BOTTLED WATER?
WE'RE OUT OF WATER AGAIN. EAST
PORTERVILLE RAN OUT OF WATER IN
2017. IT MADE INTERNATIONAL
NEWS. BUDWEISER MADE OF
COMMEMORATE COMMEMORATIVE CAN
RUN OUT OF WATER EVERY YEAR. WE
DON'T MAKE THE LOCAL PAPER. OUR
CHILDREN GET SORRY BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL. PARENTS GET
IN TROUBLE, THEY GET FINE.
THERE'S NOT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH
WATER FOR ALL THE HOMES TO HAVE
BASIC HYGIENE, LIKE BATHING,
WASHING CLOTHES AGAIN. SOME OF
OUR CHILDREN, MISS SCHOOL AND
SOME ADULTS MISS WORK BECAUSE
THEY CAN'T BATHE OR WASH THEIR
CLOTHES. SOMETIMES WE'RE FORCED
TO CLOSE BUILDINGS DOWN. SO WE
CAN NO LONGER PROVIDE SERVICES
OR SOCIAL WORKERS. YOU KNOW, THE
TRIBES COURT. THE TRIBES MEDICAL
FACILITY. THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDES
MEDICAL CARE FOR THE RESERVATION
AND ALSO PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE
FOR ALL FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED
INDIANS IN THEIR HOUSEHOLDS IN
TULARE COUNTY. MOST OF OUR HOMES
RELY ON EVAPORATIVE COOLING. SO
WHEN THERE'S NO WATER THEY DON'T
HAVE ANY COOLING THOSE OF YOU
THAT LIVE IN OUR AREA. YOU KNOW
IT WAS 100 AND EIGHT THE OTHER
DAY. WE HAD TO ACTIVATE OUR
COOLING CENTERS AND MOVE OUR
PEOPLE TO THESE CENTERS SO THAT
YOU KNOW WE DON'T LOSE THEM. TO
A HEAT STROKE. BUT BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC, WE CAN'T USE THE
SPACE THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM TO
GET COVID, EITHER. SO WE HAVE
LIMITED SPACE NOW. WHICH MAKES
IT VERY DIFFICULT. FINALLY THE
WINDY FIRE IN 2021 PUT FURTHER
PRESSURE ON THE TRIBE'S WATER
RESOURCE IS THE TOOLEY RIVER
FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO FIGHT
HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF FIRE AND
OLD GROWTH SEQUOIA FOREST ON THE
UPPER PART OF THE RESERVATION
LAND WITH INSUFFICIENT
COORDINATION FROM FEDERAL FIRE
AGENCIES. FIRE RETARDANT WAS
DROPPED INTO OUR WATER SUPPLY
DIRECTLY INTO THE WATERSHED INTO
THE SOUTH FORK TO THE RIVER INTO
WETLANDS. CAUSING TOXIC ALGAE
GROWTH ON A RESERVATION THAT
WE'RE CURRENTLY MONITORING. KEEP
IN MIND 60% OF OUR DRINKING
WATER COMES FROM THE SOUTH FORK
TO LI RIVER. SO WE COME BEFORE
YOU. TO TALK ABOUT WATER
SETTLEMENTS. SO AGAIN IN 1922.
IT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US. WE
BELIEVE IT WAS DONE ILLEGALLY.
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR CURRENT
GOVERNMENT UNTIL 1936 WHEN OUR
TRIBE ADOPTED IN INDIAN
REORGANIZATION ACT CONSTITUTION
, GIVEN YOU THE GOVERNMENT THAT
WE HAVE TODAY. IN 1970 71, THEN
CHAIRMAN ALEX GARFIELD ATTENDED
THE CONGRESSIONAL FIELD HEARING.
TO TALK ABOUT. HOW DOES HOW DO
WE RESTORE THAT RIGHT BACK TO
THE TRIBE? 1971 I WAS BORN IN
1972. I'M 50 YEARS OLD. WE GOT A
FEDERAL TEAM APPOINTED IN THE
EARLY TWO THOUSANDS. I THOUGHT,
OH, GREAT. THIS IS FINALLY IT'S
GOING TO BE A REALITY. WE'RE
GOING TO GET THIS RESTORED. WE
CAN STORE SOME WATER. DIDN'T
HAPPEN. WE REACHED AN AGREEMENT
WITH THE DOWNSTREAM USERS IN
2007. WE GOT EVERYBODY. WE DON'T
HAVE TO SUE ANYBODY WE MET. WE
TALKED WE WERE CIVILIZED. NO.
AND WE MADE AN AGREEMENT. WE ALL
SIGNED AND IN MY OPINION, THE
FEDS FAILED US AGAIN. PASS A
BILL 789 8013. WE HAVE ANOTHER
BILL PENDING. THIS YEAR. FIRST
THING THEY ASK US WHAT'S THE
STATE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE? SO HE
CAME HERE. HAT IN HAND. HOW CAN
YOU HELP US BECOME TO OUR
ELECTED LEADERS HERE IN THE
STATE? WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR US?
THIS IS OUR STORY. YOU HEAR?
SOME OF THESE CASES ARE 15 2050
YEARS. AND WE'RE TALKING 100. 50
YEARS. JUST AT THE CURRENT SITE.
SO WITH THAT. WE CAME WITH OUR
HAT IN HAND. WE ASKED FOR $30
MILLION FROM THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS
WATER SETTLEMENT THAT WE'RE%
TRYING TO GET SETTLED AND PASSED
THROUGH CONGRESS. AND I THINK
IT'S A GOOD THING, AND I THINK
IT'S A BENEFIT NOT JUST FROM MY
PEOPLE, BUT FOR THE DOWNSTREAM
USERS AS WELL THAT ARE GOING TO
BENEFIT FROM US STORING WATER
DURING THE WET SEASON TWO
RELEASE DURING THE DRY SEASON
BECAUSE THEY RUN OUT OF WATER AS
WELL. THERE'S A LOT OF FARMERS
IN THERE A LOT OF EGGS, CITRUS,
MAINLY. THE TRIBE ITSELF HAS HAS
A RANCH THERE WITH WITH CITRUS.
$30 MILLION. ASK YOU FIRST WOULD
PROVIDE A MEDIA UPGRADES FOR
SHOVEL READY PROJECTS TO OUR
CURRENT DRINKING WATER SYSTEM.
THIS WOULD HELP US ADDRESS THE
IMMEDIATE DRINKING WATER
SHORTAGE THAT WE FACE EACH YEAR.
SECOND THE STATE FUNDING WOULD
HELP TO THE RIVER FINALIZED OUR
FEDERAL WATER SETTLEMENT. 100
YEARS THIS YEAR. 1922 TO 2022.
WE ARE CURRENTLY FINALIZING
NEGOTIATIONS ON A HISTORIC
BROADWAY WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT
WITH THE U. S DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR. THE SETTLEMENT WOULD
SECURE OUR RIGHT TO STORE UP TO
5828 ACRE FEET OF WATER PER
YEAR, PROVIDING A 100 YEAR
SOLUTION TO OUR ANNUAL DRINKING
WATER SHORTAGE. AS PART OF THE
SETTLEMENT. WE ARE NEGOTIATING
FUNDING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR, WHICH WOULD HELP
TO THE RIVER CONSTRUCT A LARGE
RESERVOIR. THIS HISTORIC
SETTLEMENT WOULD BE A VICTORY
FOR ALL TRIBAL PEOPLES IN
CALIFORNIA, AS IT WOULD IT WOULD
BE ONLY THE FIFTH EVER WATER
SETTLEMENT FOR A FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED CALIFORNIA TRIBE. IT
WOULD ALSO PROVIDE THE LARGEST
AMOUNT OF FUNDING EVER RECEIVED
BY CALIFORNIA TRIBE FOR A
SETTLEMENT. MAYBE IN THE NATION
FOR THAT MATTER, ALTHOUGH I
CAN'T DISCLOSE THE EXACT NUMBER
UNDER NEGOTIATION, BUT IT IS
PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS WELL
IN EXCESS OF $500 MILLION. THE
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
ASSISTANT SECRETARY BRIAN NULAND
TOWARD THE RESERVATION LAST
MONTH. THAT'S ONE OF THE FINAL
STEPS TOWARDS COMPLETING THE
SETTLEMENT. HE WAS VERY
IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THE TRIBE
MANAGES ITS WATERSHED AND
MANAGED ITS FOREST LANDS AGAIN.
THE RESERVATIONS 84.2 OR 0.4,
SQUARE MILES. BUT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO
OUR NEGOTIATORS THAT THEY EXPECT
SOME SUPPORT FROM THE STATE. I'M
TOLD THIS IS BECOMING COMMON
EXPECTATION FOR FEDERAL WATER
SETTLEMENTS. FORTUNATELY, STATE
FUNDING FOR TWO LI RIVER WILL
FIT WITHIN THE STATE POLICY
PRIORITIES TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE
DRINKING WATER SHORTAGES, SINCE
IT WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE
IMMEDIATE UPGRADES THAT WILL
HELP TO REDUCE OUR ANNUAL
SHORTAGES. STATE FUNDING WILL
HAVE THE ADDED BENEFIT OF
SIGNALING, SIGNALING TO FEDERAL
NEGOTIATORS CALIFORNIA SUPPORTS
TO THE RIVER AND OTHER
CALIFORNIA TRIBES. ARE PENDING
SETTLEMENT WILL ALSO BENEFIT THE
ENTIRE REGION. WE HAVE THE
AGREEMENTS WITH ALL THE
DOWNSTREAM USERS. RESERVING
WATER ON THE SOUTH FORK OF THE
TOOLEY RIVER DURING THE WET
SEASON WILL ALLOW US TO KEEP IT
FLOWING FOR ALL YOU WAS USERS
DURING THE DRY SEASON. FINALLY,
THERE'S A PRECEDENT FOR COUPLING
STATE FUNDING WITH FEDERAL WATER
SETTLEMENT MONEY. IN 2021 TO
CALIFORNIA BUDGET TRAILER BILL
SB 1 70 INCLUDED $15 MILLION FOR
THE SAN LUIS REY INDIAN WATER
AUTHORITY. WHICH ALSO RECEIVED
30 MILLION IN FEDERAL WATER
SETTLEMENT FUNDING. TRULY RIVER
TRIBE IS ASKING FOR THE SAME
THING AND THE SAME
CONSIDERATION. ONLY WHERE THE
SAN LUIS REY WAS FUNDED AT 50
CENTS PER FEDERAL DOLLAR TO THE
RIVER IS ASKING FOR FIVE CENTS
PER FEDERAL DOLLAR. WE THINK
THAT FUNDING TO ADDRESS
IMMEDIATE DRINKING WATER
SHORTAGES AND HELP US REACH A
LONG TERM SOLUTION WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A MODEST
ASK. DURING A YEAR WHEN
CALIFORNIA HAS HISTORIC BUDGET
SURPLUSES. I WANT TO THANK YOU.
FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO
ME TODAY. I WANTED TO WALK INTO
THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON
BEHALF OF ME AND MY MEMBERSHIP.
I STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN FOR
BRINGING THAT MUCH NEEDED
INFORMATION TO THIS COMMITTEE,
THE JOINT COMMITTEE AND I KNOW
THAT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP
WITH MORE INFORMATION OF HOW WE
COULD ACTUALLY HELP. I MEAN
HEARING OF THE THINGS THAT
HAPPENED IN SUBURBAN OTHER
TRIBAL LEADERS, BUT BRINGING IT
TO REALITY THAT IT'S STILL
HAPPENING TODAY. WHERE, ANYWHERE
ELSE, UM IF WATER WAS
CONTAMINATED, YOU WOULD SEE AN
EMERGENCY DECLARED, YOU WOULD
SEE BOTTLED WATER COMING IN FROM
ALL DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT
BRINGING IN SHEDDING THE LIGHT
AND TAKING THE SHUTTERS OFF OF
ELECTED LEADERS AND EVEN THOSE
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT
WHEN IT COMES TO A INDIAN TRIBE.
SUFFERING WITH LACK OF WATER.
WHERE IS THE OUTCRY? AND I
BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT
LOUD AND CLEAR SITTING ON THIS
DIET? SO THANK YOU. FOR THOSE
WORDS. NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO
CHAIRMAN RAYMOND WELSH OF THE
BARONA TRIBAL GOVERNMENT WHO
WILL ADDRESS THE WATER ISSUES
IMPACTING THE BARONA TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN. WELSH IS
CURRENTLY SERVING HIS FIRST TERM
AS TRIBAL CHAIRMAN. PRIOR TO
THIS TERM, HE SERVED AS VICE
CHAIR FOR SIX YEARS. HE COMES
WITH A LONG LINE OF TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP. CHAIRMAN ROBERT
WELCH HAS PRIORITIZED
INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENTS,
INCLUDING SECURING SUSTAINABLE
WATER RESOURCES, OR AS PEOPLE ON
THE BARONA TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
CHAIRMAN HOW COME. GOOD MORNING
CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I AM
RAYMOND. WELL, CHAIRMAN, LEBRON
ABANDONED MISSION INDIANS. THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING TO THE
FOREFRONT THE IMPORTANCE OF
ADDRESSING THE HISTORY OF TRIBAL
TREATMENT AS RELATES TO ACCESS
TO WATER. AND THE CURRENT
REALITIES OF TRIBAL WATER NEEDS
AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL
YOU ABOUT VERONA'S WATER
SITUATION TODAY WITHOUT SHARING
SOME HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.
CREATION STORY TELLS US WE CAME
FROM WATER. WATER IS BEGINNING.
WATER IS LIFE. OUR PEOPLE LIVE
ALONG THE SAN DIEGO RIVER SINCE
WELL BEFORE COLUMBUS. WE
IRRIGATED OUR LANDS AND GREW
CROPS OF THE WATER FROM OUR
RIVER. CONGRESS HAD PROMISED
THAT WE WOULD HAVE OUR ORIGINAL
RESERVATION FOREVER. BUT IN 1919
CONGRESS WENT BACK ON ITS WORD.
AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY OF SAN
DIEGO TO CONDEMN OUR
RESERVATION. ALONG THE SAN DIEGO
RIVER THAT THE CITY COULD FLOOD
OUR LAND OF THE FLOOD OR LAND
FOR THE CAPITAN GRANDI
RESERVOIR. THE CITY TOOK NEARLY
ALL OUR ANCESTRAL LANDS.
INCLUDING OUR VILLAGES ARE
IRRIGATED FIELDS, OUR HOMES, OUR
CHURCH AND OUR BURIAL GROUNDS.
WITH THE FUNDS FROM THE
CONDEMNATION. WE PURCHASED A
RANCH THAT BECAME OUR CURRENT
RESERVATION, THE BARONI INDIAN
RESERVATION AND RURAL SAN DIEGO
COUNTY. BUT IT'S DRY. THERE IS
NO FREE FLOWING RIVER. AS OUR
ORIGINAL VISION HAD. INSTEAD OF
INSTEAD, THE BARONI INTEGRATION
WAS RELY ENTIRELY ON GROUNDWATER
FROM OUR WELLS. BEFORE THE
CURRENT GROUND GROUNDWATER IS
BARELY ADEQUATE FOR OUR NEEDS.
OUR GRAND WATER RESOURCES HAVE
BEEN CONTINUED TO BE MAXIMIZED
AND SUSTAINABLE. THROUGH HIS
CONSERVATION AND WATER RECYCLING
EFFORTS. AND WATER RECLAMATION
PLANT AND RAINWATER RECOVERY
SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN OPERATION
SINCE THE BIG TOP CASINO WAS
BUILT IN 1998. AND THEN UPGRADED
IN 2001 WHEN WE OPENED THE
BRAWNER RESORT AND CASINO. SOME
YOU HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO TOUR
THIS FACILITY. A LACK OF WATER
NOT ONLY IMPACT THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR
RESERVATION. PROPOSES DIRECT
RISK THE SAFETY OF OUR
RESIDENTS. RULE FANDANGO COUNTY.
USED TO BE AT RISK FOR FIRES
DURING THE MONTH OF JULY THROUGH
OCTOBER. TODAY. FIRE SEASON IS
YEAR AROUND. IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THE HIGH RISK OF WILDFIRES. THE
BARONA FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 1998. THE RIGHT
DEDICATED FIRE SERVICE TO THE
RESIDENTS, EMPLOYEES AND PATRONS
OF BARONA RESERVATION. SINCE ITS
INCEPTION, THE BARONA FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAS RESPONDED TO OVER
1350 FIRES. TWO OF WHICH THE
THEATER AND THE WITCH CREEK
FIRE. WERE RECOGNIZED BY CAL
FIRE IS THE 3RD AND 5TH MOST
DESTRUCTIVE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE
SINCE 1961. AS DOCUMENT BY THE
US DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, THE
2003 CREW CEDAR CREEK FIRE 95%
OF THE RESERVATION. 6200 ACRES.
AND DESTROYED 39 STRUCTURES. OUR
LIMITED GROUNDWATERWILL NOT
SUPPORT FIREFIGHTING FLOWS. WITH
THE ONGOING DROUGHT GONE,
GROUNDWATER IS EXTREMELY
LIMITED. WE NEED RELIABLE
OUTSIDE WATER FOR THE NEW HOMES
FOR OUR YOUNG FAMILIES AND FOR
FIRE SUPPRESSION. BROWN IS ALSO
GRAPPLING WITH ANOTHER
CHALLENGE. AS PART OF THE LEGACY
OF DISPLACEMENT AND NEGLECT THE
TRIBAL PEOPLE COUPLED WITH THE
LACK OF WATER, WE ARE FACING AN
AGING WATER. INFRASTRUCTURE
SYSTEM THAT TRANSPORTS WATER TO
OUR HOMES. IN THE 19 FIFTIES,
THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND
SAW THE VERY LIMITED WATER
SYSTEM. DISTRIBUTE OUR GROUND
WATER TO OUR HOMES. MUCH OF THAT
ORIGINAL SYSTEM IS TRANSLATED
PIPE. WITH THIS BESTEST AND HIS
FAILING NOW. AT OUR OWN EXPENSE
. WE ARE BEGINNING TO REPLACE
THOSE PIPES AND SHIFT SOME OF
THE HOMES FROM BEING ON SEPTIC
TANKS TO CONNECT THEM TO A
LIMITED SEWER SYSTEM. ALL THE
PROTECTED GROUNDWATER. THE COST
IS MASSIVE. A POPULATION OF 502.
AND THE ESTIMATES TO BE IN A
TENS OF MILLION TO REPLACE THIS
PIPE. TO ADDRESS TO ADDRESS THE
LACK OF SELF SUFFICIENT SUPPLY.
IS ACTUALLY SICK, SEEKING TO
SUPPLEMENT OUR GROUNDWATER
RESOURCES BY UTILIZING THE
STREAMLINED PROCESS TO OBTAIN
AND PAY FOR NORMAL WATER SERVICE
OUT OF AS A CUSTOMER, LOCAL
WATER DISTRICT. THE RECYCLED AND
POTABLE WATER SUPPLIES WILL BE
ACCESSED AS PART OF THIS
AGREEMENT. WE'LL ENSURE NOT ONLY
SUFFICIENT WATER FOR RESIDENTS
BUT ALSO TO ADDRESS SEVERE
PIRACY THE RISK. HELP ENSURE A
TIMELY PROCESS. GIVEN THE
INTIMATE NEED, WE ARE WORKING
AND WITH AND VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED ASSEMBLY IN A WATER
GARCIA'S EFFORT. EXTEND THE
SUNSET ON HIS PRIOR LEGISLATION.
VERONA AND OTHER TRIBES AND
SIMILAR NEED CAN AVAIL
THEMSELVES. OTHER APPROPRIATE
OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN ACCESS TO
WATER. IN A MANNER THAT IS
HIGHLY RESPECTABLE OF HISTORY
AND TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY. BROWN IS
NOT UNIQUE AND GROUNDWATER NEED
DEPENDENCY. MOST TRIBAL NATIONS
ARE. A DECISION MADE THEN MAKE A
DECISION MADE IN LEGISLATION IS
CRAFTED. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER
THE IMPACTS. OF THOSE DECISIONS
FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE
PUSHED INTO THE ROCKS. I GREATLY
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TODAY AND SHARE ABOUT
VERONA'S EXPERIENCE WITH WATER.
I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME TO
BRUNO. AND LEARN MORE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIRMAN
FOR THAT. AND. BRINGING TO LIGHT
THE STILL NEEDED ISSUES AND THE
FIRE THE FIRE SUPPRESSION THE
NEED OF WATER TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT HOMES ARE PROTECTED AS WELL
AS THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE TRIBAL
MEMBERS THERE, RESIDING ON THE
BARONA TRIBAL GOVERNMENT. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS THE CHAIRWOMAN,
PTOLEMY BAND. MEANWHILE, INDIANS
ANDREA REICH CHAIRPERSON RIGHT
WILL SPEAK TO WATER ISSUES
AFFECTING THE PTOLEMY BAND OF
MIWOK INDIANS. SHE HAS ALSO
SERVED AS TRIBAL TREASURER AND
EXECUTIVE CONTROLLER. IN
ADDITION, CHAIRPERSON RIGHT IS
THE TREASURER TO THE CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA TRIBAL CHAIRPERSONS
ASSOCIATION. OR EXPERIENCE
INCLUDES MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION
AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING. ABOVE
ALL, SHE FINDS THE ADVANCEMENT
AND ADVOCACY OF HER TRIBE TO BE
IMPORTANT, AS WELL AS SETTING A
POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR NATIVE
YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN THE TOPICS
AFFECTING, UM, CALIFORNIA INDIAN
PEOPLE TODAY. SHE IS JOINING US
VIRTUALLY CHAIR. ARE YOU THERE?
YES CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES WE CAN
HEAR YOU AND SEE YOU. WONDERFUL
MAN EXISTS. THEN YOU CAN MOVE
FOR THAT INTRODUCTION. LET ME
START BY THANKING YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY
. AMONG THE MANY OTHER TRIBAL
LEADERS SHARING THE TRIBES
RESPECTIVE ON ISSUES WE FACE ON
WATER ON BEHALF OF MY TRIBE THAT
TOLD ME ABANDONED ME WITH
INDIANS. AS YOU'VE HEARD HERE
TODAY, WATER IS A VITAL PART OF
LIFE BUILDING RESILIENCY FOR THE
TRIBE WILL BETTER POSITION US
FOR THE FUTURE. THE 20 BAND
RESIGNS ON FEDERAL TRUST LAND
KNOWN AS THE TOMMY RENTERIA. OUR
LAND BASE IS LOCATED IN THE
WESTERN FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRA
NEVADA MOUNTAINS. THIS IS
APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES FROM
OUR TOWN OF 12 ME ONE AND ONE
HALF HOURS NORTHWEST OF YOSEMITE
NATIONAL PARK AND TWO HOURS EAST
OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. THE
FIRST PROJECT THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS A WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT. IN APRIL
OF THIS YEAR. THE TRIBE WAS
AWARDED APPROXIMATELY $3.6
MILLION IN FUNDING TO INSTALL
WATER TANK AS WELL AS AN
IMPROVED AND REPLACE WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE 12 YEAR
ROUND. KOREA THIS INSTALL WILL
INCLUDE A 400,000 GALLON WATER
TANK AND UPGRADE APPROXIMATELY
10,500 LINEAR FEET OF, UH. PIPE
FROM A TWO INCH TO AN EIGHT INCH
PIPE. ALONG WITH THESE UPGRADES
, THE TRIBE WILL BE ABLE TO
INSTALL 15 NEW WORKING FIRE
HYDRANTS. THESE IMPROVEMENTS
WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE WATER
DELIVERY TO HOMES, GOVERNMENT
OFFICES BUT OTHER FACILITIES
LOCATED ON THE RANCH AREA. THESE
IMPROVEMENTS WILL ALSO SERVE TO
ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE AND
UNINTERRUPTED FIRE FLOW FOR FIRE
SUPPRESSION EFFORTS IS THERE FOR
US. IT'S ESTIMATED THAT ONCE
THIS NEW TANK IS INSTALLED, THE
TRIBE COULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE DRINKING WATER AND FIRE
FLOW FOR THE TRIBE FOR SEVEN
DAYS IF OUR SUPPLY WHEREVER
INTERRUPTED THERE'S ALSO
INTRODUCES A MECHANISM THAT THE
TRIBE COULD RECEIVE AND STORE
HAULED WATER DURING LONGER
ADAGES. THESE AWARDS DRAW FROM
TWO PHASES OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES,
URBAN AND MULTI BENEFIT DROUGHT
RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM. THE GRANT.
APPLICATIONS WERE COMPLETED BY
THE TRIBE THROUGH THE 12 ME,
STANISLAS INTEGRATED REGIONAL
WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY. AS
CUMBERSOME AS THIS PROCESS OF
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTAL WAS,
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THIS FUNDING OF
THIS PROJECT AND WHAT IT MEANS
FOR OUR TRIBE. WE CONTINUE TO
PATIENTLY AWAIT FOR ARE GONE.
OUR GRANT CONTRACT AGREEMENT,
WHICH WILL ALLOW THE TIME TO
OBLIGATE THESE FUNDS AND
RESOURCES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR
THIS PROJECT. THE TRIBE WILL
CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO BUILD
RESILIENCY. THE SECOND PROJECT
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE TODAY
IS A RESTORATION PROJECT.
CURRENTLY THE TRIBE IS ACTIVELY
WORKING TOWARDS SECURING FUNDING
TO REHABILITATE THE WESTSIDE LOG
POND DAM TO FURTHER MITIGATE THE
TUOLUMNE BASIN FROM FIRE AND
DROUGHT. THIS PROJECT WILL
ENHANCE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
REINTRODUCED FIRE SUPPRESSION
SUPPLY. DO NOT ONLY ARE
RANCHERIA BUT OUR TOWNSHIP. IT
WILL RECHARGE GROUNDWATER
SUPPLIES REPAIR ONCE EXISTING
RIPARIAN HABITAT AND ENHANCE THE
VIABILITY OF OUR COUNTY.
COMPLETED THIS DAM WILL HOLD 120
ACRE FEET OF WATER. THIS PROJECT
WOULD RESTORE THE HABITATS FOR
HISTORICAL WILDLIFE THAT ONCE
EXISTED IN OUR AREA. THIS
PROJECT WAS STARTED IN 2012 AND
HAS TAKEN SUBSTANTIAL A
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME AND
RESOURCE TO SECURE ALL OF THE
NECESSARY PERMITTING THAT DAM
PROJECTS REQUIRE THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT. WATER RESOURCES HAS
YET TO NOTIFY THE TRIBE OF ITS
CURRENT APPLICATION STATUS,
HINDERING OUR ABILITY TO APPLY
FOR OTHER FUNDINGS. 20 BAND OF
MUSIC INDIANS UNDERSTANDS THE
SIGNIFICANT VALUE OF BUILDING
WATER RESILIENCY FOR PEOPLE AND
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY
TOWARDS OBTAINING SUSTAINABLE
WATER RESOURCES WERE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
ME THE TIME HERE TO SPEAK TODAY.
MICHELANGELO TALK ABOUT GOD
BLESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH GERALYN RIGHT FOR BRINGING
US UP TO SPEED ON THE ISSUES
THAT ARE FACING, UM PTOLEMY
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT THERE AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS. I
MEAN, JUST GOING FROM A TWO INCH
LINE TO A EIGHT INCH LINE. I
MEAN, FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT TWO
INCH LINE PROVIDED THAT LIFELINE
AND NOW INCREASING IT TO THAT.
BUT WE KNOW THERE'S MORE NEED.
THAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED DOWN
THE ROAD. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR
PARTICIPATING IN THIS JOINT
HEARING. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD
ASK IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS
FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SOME OF
THEM WERE MATHIS. THANK YOU.
CHAIRMAN RAMOS. I WANT TO THANK. ALL THE CHAIR TRAVEL CHAIRMAN.
FOR SHARING. THE STORIES THEY
ESPECIALLY. YOU KNOW, FOR ME AT
HOME WITH WITH TOOLEY, CHAIRMAN. EVERY TIME I HEAR IT, IT MAKES
YOU WANNA CRY BECAUSE IT'S AN
INJUSTICE. AND YEAH. BEEN DOING
MY BEST TO TALK TO MY
COLLEAGUES. FOR THAT BUDGET. ASK
IN, SO I'M GONNA TAKE BE A
LITTLE SELFISH HERE FOR MY TRIBE
AT THE MOMENT AND LOOK TO MY
COLLEAGUES AND REMINDING THEM. I
KNOW A LOT OF US HAVE A LOT OF
YOU HAVE SIGNED ON TO THE
LETTERS ASKING FOR THE FUNDING
IN THE BUDGET. TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT OUR TRIBES ARE MADE WHOLE.
YOU'VE HEARD IT. I MEAN, FIVE
CENTS EVERY FEDERAL DOLLAR TO
MAKE OVER 100 YEAR. WRONG,
RIGHT? TO ME. IT'S A SIMPLE ASK
I THINK FOR OUR PEOPLE AT HOME
FOR THE TWO LEAD PEOPLE. THIS IS
A SIMPLE ASK. I SPOKE WITH
CHAIRMAN TING ON THE FLOOR OF
THE ASSEMBLY YESTERDAY.
REMINDING HIM OF THIS ASK, BUT I
WOULD ASK EACH ONE OF YOU. AS
YOU SEE MR TING AS YOU SPEAK.
THE SPEAKER RENDON. REMIND THEM
THAT THESE THINGS NEED TO BE
MADE RIGHT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU
ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS
WISHING TO COMMENT CHAIR? THANK
YOU. THOMAS. I JUST WANTED TO
THANK ALL OF YOU. UM YOU KNOW,
CHAIRMAN PIRONE AS YOU
APOLOGIZED UNNECESSARILY ALL AD
FOR YOUR EMOTIONS. UM I
RECOGNIZE THAT WE SIT IN THE
SEATS OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME
BEFORE US. AND THOSE PEOPLE HAVE
DONE INCREDIBLE WRONGS TO YOUR
PEOPLE AND TO THE PEOPLE OF
EVERY TRIBE. REPRESENTED HERE
AND WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
UM AND I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT
UPON US TO CHALLENGE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AS I DID IN THE
PREVIOUS PANEL AND TO DO WHAT WE
CAN AS A STATE TO RIGHT, THOSE
WRONGS IS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S,
MATHIS HAS SAID, BUT IT IS
REALLY HELPFUL TO HEAR HOW THE
DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY
ALLOCATED ARE BEING SPENT AND
WHAT IS HAPPENING AND HOW THAT'S
HELPFUL AND TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE
CAN BE MOST HELPFUL MOVING
FORWARD. OBVIOUSLY THE BUDGET
ASK BEING A PIECE OF THAT, BUT,
UH, YOU KNOW, IN ANY OTHER WAY
THAT WE CAN BE BOTH RESPECTFUL
OF YOUR SOVEREIGNTY AND YOUR
LANDS AND MAKE SURE THAT
CALIFORNIA IS STEPPING UP IN OUR
ROLE. UM, AS A YOU KNOW THE
GOVERNMENT HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE
A LOT OF WORK TO DO AHEAD OF US.
SO THANK YOU. I THINK THIS WAS
INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. UM, AND
WITH THAT, UM I THINK WE DID YOU
WANT TO FINAL COMMENTS ON PANEL
THREE? CERTAINLY. WE'VE HEARD,
UM THE QUESTIONS AND THEY ASKED,
THAT'S THERE AND PLEASE WORK
WITH OUR OUR OFFICE TO SEE IF
THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE COULD
GENERATE MORE, UM, SIGNATURES ON
THIS LETTER TALKING ABOUT THAT,
BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO GO BY
WITHOUT FULLY GRASPING, UM,
THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AND MY
COLLEAGUES THAT ARE HERE. THAT
THERE'S A THERE'S A WATER
SHORTAGE AND WATER OF DRINKING
WATER IN A COMMUNITY HERE IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. IF ONE OF
OUR COUNTIES 58 COUNTIES WOULD
HAVE THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENED
TO ANY ONE OF THEIR CITIES OR
THE COUNTY'S. THERE'D BE A
DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY, MAKING
SURE THAT BOTTLED WATER WAS
PROVIDED MAKING SURE THAT IT WAS
THERE YET BECAUSE IT'S A TRIBAL
NATION STILL HAS TO REACH OUT TO
DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT
THERE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S
HAPPENING IN INDIAN COUNTRY.
THAT HOPEFULLY BY HAVING THESE
HEARINGS BRINGS THAT TO LIGHT
THAT THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING
THAT HAS HAPPENED HISTORICALLY,
AS WE'VE HEARD, TOOK 60 YEARS TO
GET A CONGRESSIONAL ACT TO GET
WATER RIGHTS BACK, BUT THIS IS
STILL HAPPENING TODAY WHEN I WAS
COUNTY SUPERVISOR, SAMMARTINO
COUNTY, A TOWN CALLED PIONEER
TOWN WOULD DRILL DOWN THEY'D
HAVE ARSENIC IN THEIR WATER
COULDN'T HAVE DRINKABLE WATER.
SO THE COUNTY PROVIDED BOTTLED
WATER TO THAT COMMUNITY FOR A
LONG PERIOD OF TIME. I DON'T
THINK AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
THE STATE SHOULD TURN ITS ITS
EYES WHEN IT'S A TRIBAL
COMMUNITY IN THE FIRST NATION,
PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME
TYPE OF, UH, ATROCITIES THAT ARE
GOING TOWARDS THEM. THIS IS
ANOTHER ATROCITY DRINKING WATER.
WATER IS LIFE. YOU SEE IT
DRINKING WATER THAT WE DEAL WITH
ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT BILLS THAT
COME OUR WAY AND LAST SESSION, I
KNOW THAT WE PUT IN THERE,
INCLUDING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, SO I JUST
DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT THAT
THIS HEARING WILL BE CONCLUDED,
AND WE ALL GO BACK TO WHERE
WE'RE AT. BUT YET WE HAVE A
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT. THAT'S TRYING
TO SECURE WATER FOR ITS PEOPLE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
RESONATES. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN
FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR
THIS PANEL THAT CONCLUDES PANEL
THREE. THANK YOU. CHAIR ALMOST.
SO WE WILL MOVE TO PANEL FOUR,
WHICH ARE THE WATER CHALLENGES
FACING TRIBES IN CALIFORNIA. UM
CONTINUATION OF THE PRIOR PANEL
WILL BE JOINED BY CHAIRMAN JO
JAMES. CHAIRMAN BO MAZZETTI AND
CHAIRWOMAN JANET BILL IF YOU
COULD ALL JOIN US AND THEN. SO
WE WILL BEGIN THIS PANEL WITH
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE YUROK JOE
JAMES, WHO WILL SHARE ON WATER
ISSUES IMPACTING THE YUROK
TRIBAL COMMUNITY, UM IN THE
KLAMATH RIVER RIVER BASIN, MR.
CHAIRMAN JAMES IS THE YUROK
TRIBAL CHAIRMAN IS FROM THE
VILLAGE OF SARGON. CHAIRMAN
JAMES HAS WORKED FOR TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS FOR THE LAST 22
YEARS IN THE AREAS OF FISHERIES,
WATER POLICY AND LAW,
INFRASTRUCTURE, PROTECTION OF
CULTURAL RESOURCES, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP. HE
HAS SERVED AS THE YUROK TRIBES,
TRANSPORTATION MANAGER COUNCIL
MEMBER AND MOST RECENTLY WAS
ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN IN OCTOBER
OF 2018. CHAIRMAN JAMES IF YOU
WILL THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. WE NOW JOSEPH L. JAMES
CHAIRMAN OF THE EUROPE TRIBE, AS
A MANAGER MENTIONED I AM FROM
THE VILLAGERS DRAGON LOCATED ON
THE LOWER CLIMATE RIVER. AH
BEFORE I GET STARTED HERE, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE IT'S AN HONOR AND
PRIVILEGE HERE TO TELL OUR STORY
WHO WE ARE AS NEEDED. PEOPLE HAS
TRIBES AS TRIBAL LEADERS AS
TRADITIONAL PEOPLE, UM HOW
IMPORTANT WATER IS CRITICAL TO
US. RIVER STREAMS, WATER. IT IS
OUR FAITH. IT'S WHO WE ARE AS
PEOPLE AS FIRST PEOPLES. WATER
FOR OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. WE
ARE I AM A NATURAL RESOURCE
TRIBE. EUROPE. PEOPLE ARE PRAYER
PEOPLE. BOAT PEOPLE BASKET
MAKERS WE RELY ON ON THE CLIMATE
RIVER FOR OUR WAY OF LIFE. IT IS
OUR GROCERY STORE. THAT PROVIDES
ARE SUBSISTENCE OF FOOD. OUR
BASKET MATERIALS AND AGAIN. WANT
TO HEAR IT IS OUR FAITH. IT IS
OUR FAITH. WE WAKE UP EVERY
MORNING. AND THANKFUL FOR MOTHER
EARTH TO PROVIDE FOR US AS
PEOPLE. AND WE SHARE THAT NOT
JUST US. AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
WILL SHARE WITH EVERYBODY. SO I
JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO FOR ME TO TESTIFY TODAY. AND
THANKS FOR THE DRINK COMMITTEE
RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
WATER TO INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
IN CALIFORNIA. THE YUROK TRIBE
IS THE LARGEST POPULAR TRIBE IN
CALIFORNIA ROUGHLY ABOUT 6400
TROUBLE CITIZENS. WE'VE HAVE
LIVED ALONG THE KLAMATH RIVER
AND THE COAST HEIRS OF THE
FOREIGN NORTH SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF TIME. IN 18 55. THE
YUROK RESERVATION WAS
ESTABLISHED. AS ONE MILE ON
EITHER SIDE OF THE CLIMATE
THROUGH FROM THE MOUTH OF THE
RIVER AT THE VILLAGE OF RAQQA UP
TO 45 MILES TO THE VILLAGE OF
WEST PECK. THE RESERVATION WAS
CREATED TO BE A PERMANENT
HOMELAND FOR EUROPE, PEOPLE IN
WHICH WE COULD CONTINUE OUR
FISHING WHICH IS OUR WAY OF
LIFE. IN THE CREATION OF THE
YORK RESERVATION. THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZE OUR
REGIONAL FISHING, HUNTING AND
WATER RIGHTS CREATED TO SUPERIOR
LAW OF THE LAND, ENTITLING US
JUST SNIFFING WATER. FORCES
SUPPORT OUR LIVELIHOOD. THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROMISED US
PRESERVE THE GOOD HEALTH OF THE
CLIMATE RIVER AND ITS PLENTIFUL
NATURAL SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE BUT
OUR RIVER HAS BEEN DESTROYED FOR
THE LAST 170 YEARS OF THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLIMATE
BASIN, INCLUDING DAMS. THE
CLIMATE RECLAMATION PROJECT IN A
TRULY VERY DIFFERENT DIVISIONS.
ILLEGAL WATER DIVISIONS ON THE
SHASTA AND SCOTT RIVERS. OVER
ALLOCATION OF WATER ON THE
CLIMATE. MAIN STEM SHATTER SCOTT
IN TRENDY RIVERS. NOW, OUR
RIVERS, GREATLY ILL. YOU KNOW, I
TOOK SOME MOMENT IN TIME BEFORE
I CAME DOWN BECAUSE YOU KNOW,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WATER. UM
SUDDENLY WE'RE ALMOST MENTIONED
EARLIER. ARE OUR FELLOW BROTHER
TRIBE UP THERE, CROOK AND IRAQ.
FISHKILL GOING ON RIGHT NOW DUE
TO THE FIRE UP THERE AND AGAIN
AS A OFFICIALS UP SO TO SPEAK UP
TO RESPOND TO PRODUCE FOR US THE
FOLLOWING YEARS, AND YOU KNOW
NOT ONLY WE DEAL WITH FIRES. I'M
HERE TODAY. I HAVE ELDERS BEING
EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES BEING
THREATENED BY FIRES OVER THERE.
SO HIT ME A LITTLE BIT. SHOULD
HAVE COME. SHOULD I NOT, YOU
KNOW, AND SO I SO I WAIT THAT,
UM TALK WITH MY STAFF, MAKING
SURE THEY'RE ENGAGED WITH OUR
PEOPLE BACK AT HOME. IT WASN'T
TOO FAR OF A DRIVE. BUT I THAT
WEIGHED HEAVY MOMMY AS I WAS, I
CAME DOWN. THEY COME DOWN OR
NOT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT GOING
ON BACK AT HOME RIGHT NOW. WE
EXPERIENCED YEARLY FISH GOES 1
2002 FISH KILLS. IN WHICH 70,000
ADULT SALMON DIED, IS WIDELY
KNOWN. IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS,
WE HAVE LOST MOST OF RUNS. CLASS
OF BABY SALMON IN JUVENILES. THE
FISH ARE DYING BECAUSE OF THIS
DISEASE OUTBREAKS CAUSED BY POOR
WATER QUALITY, HIGH WATER
TEMPERATURES AND SIPPING WATER
IN STREAMS. MAKING MATTERS
WORSE, TOXIC BLUE GREEN ALGAE
BLOOMS MAKE THE WATER HAZARDOUS
IN TOUCH. FURTHER WATER IS OVER,
ALLOCATED. AGRICULTURAL
DIVERSIONS LEAVE STREAMS WITHOUT
WATER TO SUPPORT THEOLOGICAL OR
SPECIES NEEDS. OUR RIVER. IT.
YES SICK. IT'S SPECIES ALONG
WITH US WILL DIE. IF WE DON'T
CHANGE THE WAY WE MANAGE THE
CLIMATE RIVER. THEN TWO CHANGES
AND HEALTHY.PATH WE URGE THE
JOINT COMMITTEE TODAY TOO.
SUPPORT AND FOR ENFORCEMENT OF
IN STREAM FLOW RECORDINGS IN
STATE LAW, LIKE THE PUBLIC TRUST
, DOCTRINE AND EMERGENCY IN
STREAM FLOW REQUIREMENTS. IN THE
SHASTA SCOTT. TRINITY AND CLOWN
THROWERS AS IT'S NATURALLY KEEP
FISH ALIVE DURING DROUGHT
CONDITIONS. TO SUPPORT
PRIORITIZATION OF INFLOWS. FOR
WATER AND PEOPLE IN TH TRINITY
RIVER. THE INTERESTS OF FISH.
AND THE PEOPLE IN THE UNIVERSE
SHOULD NOT BE HARMED TO SATISFY
THE CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT.
WATER DEMANDS ENSURE THERE IS
CLEAN, COLD WATER AVAILABLE FISH
IN THE TRINITY RIVER. 32
APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO SUPPORT
HABITAT RESTORATION AND WATER
QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS ON THE
KLAMATH RIVER. AND ALSO SUPPORT
TRAVEL SET ASIDE PROGRAMS
FUNDING FOR TRIBES. FOUR.
SUPPORT THE TRIBES EFFORT TO
RESOLVE ITS WATER RIGHTS CLAIM.
THE YUROK TRIBE IS ACTUALLY
PARTNERINGWITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO ASSERT ITS WATER
RIGHTS. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS
THE STATE SUPPORT THE EUROPE
TRIBE IN THIS EFFORT. AGAIN
TODAY. I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE THE CHAIRS FOR ITS
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE TESTING
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER. FOR THE
CLIMATE RIVER IN THE TRINITY UP
ON OUR EARTH REGARDING OUR
NATURAL RESOURCE AND OUR FISH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING
INCREDIBLE STEWARDS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR TIME. MEMORIAL
AS IT SAID. UM WE WILL NOW TURN
TO CHAIRMAN MAZZETTI OF THE SAN
LUIS REY INDIAN WATER AUTHORITY
AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RINCON
TRIBE CHAIRMAN. MAZZETTI
CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE RINCON BAND OF LUCIANO
INDIANS AND IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE CALIFORNIA TRIBAL
CHAIRMAN'S ASSOCIATION. HE HAS
SURVIVED PREVIOUS TERMS AS VICE
CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER
CHAIRMAN. MAZZETTI SERVES AS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE SAN LUIS REY
INDIAN WATER AUTHORITY, A
CONSORTIUM OF FIVE TRIBES THAT
HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN POLITICAL
AND LEGAL ACTIVITIES. TO SECURE
WATER RESOURCES LOST THROUGH
FEDERAL GRANTING OF TRIBAL WATER
RIGHTS TO LOCAL CITIES. CHAIRMAN
MAZZETTI BELIEVES IN THE
IMPORTANCE OF TRIBES WORKING
TOGETHER TO PAVE THE PATHWAY FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS, CHAIRMAN
THANK YOU. CHAIRPERSON BARBER
CON, UH, APPRECIATE THIS
OPPORTUNITY. ALSO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS
APPRECIATE IT. I DO HAVE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE A SIMILAR MOVE.
GARCIA AND I HAD WORKED ON THIS
CONCEPT FOR OVER A YEAR. TO GET
TRIBAL WATER RIGHT HEARD AT THE
STATE LEVEL. I DO WANT TO IF I
CAN GO BACK TO THE WINTERS
DOCTRINE, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE ALL AND UNDERSTAND THE
WINTERS DOCTRINE. I KNOW THE
LEGAL COUNSEL FROM THE INTERIOR
DID QUITE A DETAIL ON IT. BUT
MAKE IT SIMPLE. THE WINTER
DOCTOR WAS BASED UPON THE
DIVERSION OF THE MILK RIVER IN
MONTANA THAT WENT TO THE SUPREME
COURT. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY
DIVERTED THAT WATER FROM THE
RESERVATION THAT WENT TO THE
COURTS THAT BECAME KNOWN AS
WINNERS VERSUS THE UNITED
STATES. THE DECISION WAS MADE IN
19 OH, NINE AND BASICALLY WHAT
IT SAID. RESERVATION IS CREATED
OR FEDERAL LANDS IN THE FEDERAL
PARKS MILITARY SO FORTH. THERE'S
AN IMPLIED AND IS ENOUGH WATER
TO GO WITH THAT LAND TO CARRY
OUT THE INTENTION OF WHAT THAT
LAND WAS SET ASIDE FOR IN THE
CASE OF RESERVATIONS IS FOR
FARMING AND SUBSISTENCE AT ALSO
SAID. NOT CURRENTLY. BUT IN THE
FUTURE. WHATEVER THE TRIBE NEEDS
IN THE FUTURE, I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE LOOK AND IT IS NOT
QUANTIFIED. UNLESS THE TRIBE HAS
DEVELOPED SOME KIND OF SPECIFIC
AGREEMENT OR IF YOU'VE DONE A
QUANTIFICATION, WINTERS, DOCTOR
AND RIGHTS OR TRIBAL, NOT
QUANTIFIED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE KIND OF ALL KIND OF MADE
IT SIMPLE AND WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
HMM. IN REFERENCE TO THERE WERE
SEVERAL THINGS I DO I FEEL
HONORED TO BE WITH THE CHAIRS OF
PRESENTED BEFORE ME, AS YOU CAN
TELL. THEY'RE SPEAKING FROM
THEIR HEART. WE'VE LIVED THIS
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS
SINCE WATER RIGHTS. FOR OVER
FIVE DECADES. SO I GREW UP WITH
IT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WATER
LITIGATION. THE SOUND OF
AUSTRALIA INDIAN WATER. CASE
SETTLEMENT ACT TOOK 50 YEARS. TO
SETTLE. MY FATHER STARTED IT AND
ALL OF THE OTHER TRIBES. THERE'S
FIVE TRIBES INVOLVED. PAULA
PALMA GOYA SAMPLES QUALITY WHEN
WE'RE GONE. ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT STARTED THIS CASE OUR
ANCESTORS, NOT ONE OF THEM LIVED
LONG ENOUGH TO SEE IT SETTLED.
THE WATER CASES. TAKE FOREVER.
IT SEEMS LIKE BUT WE FINALLY
REACHED SETTLEMENT. THE SOUND
WAS THREE INDIAN WATER AUTHORITY
IS THE OLDEST CONGRATULATE
CHARTERED INDIAN WATER AUTHORITY
IN THE UNITED STATES. WHICH IS
RIGHT HERE IN CALIFORNIA,
CONSISTING OF THE FIVE TRIBES I
MENTIONED WHAT WE'VE DONE IS THE
CASE WAS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE
SOUNDLESS RAY RIVER WHAT'S THE
FIVE TRIBES ARE ON WAS DIVERTED
. THE RIVER WAS DIVERTED TO THE
CITY OF ESCONDIDA VISIT
IRRIGATION DISTRICT. THE
LITIGATION. IT WAS FILED. IT
TOOK THAT LONG TO END UP WITH WE
GOT ROUGHLY. A SMALL PERCENTAGE
OF THE WATER THAT USED TO RUN
THROUGH THAT RIVER. BUT WE
REACHED SETTLEMENT AND WE ALSO
RECEIVED SOME FUNDING WHICH
WE'RE USING FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FIVE TRIBES,
SO BUT. I THINK ONE THING.
HOPEFULLY THAT CAME OUT THIS
MORNING. PEOPLE ASSUME THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S TAKING CARE
OF THE TRIBES. YOU'VE GOT B I A.
YOU GOT INTERIOR YOU'VE GOT, UH,
INDIAN HEALTH. IT'S NOT TRUE.
IT'S AN ASSUMPTION THAT'S WHY
TRIBES GET LEFT BEHIND. WELL THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S TAKING CARE
OF ALL THE TRIBES DID. THAT'S
NOT HAPPENING. AND HOPEFULLY YOU
SEE THAT TODAY. SO WE HAVE TO
DEPEND UPON ANY SOURCE THAT WE
CAN TO TRY TO GET SOME HELP WITH
THEIR WATER SYSTEMS. THE FIVE
TRIBES I MENTIONED WHO WERE THE
WATER AUTHORITY. WE DON'T HAVE
SUFFICIENT FIRE. HYDRANTS. WE
DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT STORAGE TO
STORE WATER TO FIGHT FIRES WITH
WE DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT SIZE
PIPELINES TO GET THE WATER TO
HYDRATE IF WE HAD THEM. SO WE
HAVE TO LOOK EVERY TRIBE PAST.
LOOK AT EVERY SOURCE POSSIBLE.
BUT PLEASE, IF ANYTHING, I HOPE
YOU REALIZE TODAY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS NOT THERE TAKING
CARE OF THE TRIBE LIKE PEOPLE
ASSUME I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE
BIGGEST POLICY. WELL, YOU BETTER
GOVERNMENT TAKING CARE OF, YOU
KNOW THEY'RE NOT MATTER OF FACT,
IN OUR SETTLEMENT PROCESS, OUR
BIGGEST ADVERSARY TURNED BIT
TURNED OUT TO BE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. IT TOOK AN EXTRA
FIVE YEARS FIGHTING WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEFORE WE
REACH SETTLEMENT. SO THERE'S
SUMPTION. EVERYTHING IS HUNKY
DORY WITH THE TRIBES IN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. UH, NO, UH
IS IT GETTING BETTER? YES, IT
IS. I WANTED TO TALK TO A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH MOST
STATE AGENCIES AND DEALING WITH
TRIBES. ONE I DON'T CARE WHAT
AGENCY WANT TO BET ONE. THEY
AUTOMATICALLY GO FOR WELL, YOU
GOT TO HAVE A FULL COMPLETE
WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY.
NO, YOU DON'T. THE OTHER BIG
FALLACY THAT OUR BIG PROBLEM IS
OKAY. YOU GOT A PROJECT ON THE
RESERVATION? YOU GOTTA FOLLOW
SEQUA. THAT DOESN'T APPLY ON ANY
LAND. SO WHAT HAPPENED IS TRIBES
SAY, WELL, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE
INTO STATE LAW. THEREFORE, THEY
PULLED BACK OR DON'T APPLY. I
WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR
ATTENTION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES. WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING SINCE LAST NOVEMBER.
NEGOTIATING WHAT? WE'RE CALLING
THE MODEL CONTRACT, WHICH I
WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO THE
THIS GROUP AT SOME POINT FOR
CONSIDERATION TO BE USED BY ALL
OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
AND STATE GOVERNMENT. WHAT IT
DOES. IT HAS A LIMITED WAIVER OF
SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY. FOR THE
BALANCE. IT ALSO HAS. SEQUA
NIPPER OR TRIBAL LAW. CAN BE
YOUR LIFE. OKAY? IS A STATE
PROTECTED. YES, THEY ARE. SO I'D
LIKE THIS MODEL CONTRACT AND
SOMETIMES TO BECOME LEGISLATION.
IT'S BEEN A REAL, UH LONG BUT
OUTSTANDING. WORK WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
ANDERSON AUGUSTINE, WHO WAS HERE
EARLIER AND ALL OF THEIR LEGAL
COUNSELS OF STAFF. IT JUST I
THINK IF WE CAN GET THIS
DEVELOPED TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS
. IT'LL HELP EVERYONE IN TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT AND IN STATE
GOVERNMENT WORK TOGETHER. THAT
WAY, YOU REALLY HAVE A TRUE
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT
RELATIONSHIP. UH HUH. I WANT TO.
I WANT TO MOVE ON DOWN TO SIGMA
STIR STRAIN OF SUSTAINABLE
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT. I
WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH IT
WHEN IT WAS BEING WRITTEN AS YOU
HEARD EARLIER, SPECIFICALLY,
FEDERAL RESERVED ANY WATER
RIGHTS WILL BE RESPECTED IN
FULL. THAT DINNER. NOW, WHAT'S
THE PROBLEM? YEAH. LET ME GIVE
AN EXAMPLE FOR SOUND WELSH RAY.
BASIN. UH, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A
GS, A GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY
AGENCY WITH ALL THE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES. IT WAS SO GOOD.
BECAUSE YOU HAD FIVE TRIBES
WORKING WITH ALL THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES. THEY WERE GOING TO
MAKE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HOW
TRIBES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO
WORK TOGETHER. WHEN THEY SAY
THEY HAVE MET THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES. WELL WE GOT
DOWN TO DOING THE GSP. REQUESTS
THAT'S THE STATE ABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY PLAN. SO IN GOING
OUT FOR THE RP WE HAD IN THERE.
OKAY, UH, RESERVED WATER RIGHTS
HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED. WELL,
THAT'S LIKE YOU PULLED OUT A
GUN. THEY BROUGHT IN ATTORNEY
THE OTHER I'M A VALLEY GROUP
BOUGHT IN AN ATTORNEY. NO, WE'RE
NOT RECOGNIZED AND RESERVED
WATER RIGHTS. THERE'S NOTHING
FOR YOU TO RECOGNIZE WE ALREADY
HAVE THEM. WELL BASED ON THAT
THE WHOLE THING BLEW APART. IT
WAS PATHETIC, BUT IT BLEW APART.
SO THEN THE GROUP DOWN THERE
FORMED THEIR OWN, EXCLUDING THE
TRIBES WILL PUT THE TRIBES OUT
OF AND DO OUR OWN G S A AND G S.
P AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID. NOW.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS?
WE GO TO THE WE WENT TO THE, UH
DWR AND WATERBOARD. UH YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD BY THE
BOARD. YOU GUYS ARE FUNDING
THEM. DWR. BUT THEY EXCLUDED THE
TRIBES AND 50% ROUGHLY 50% OF
THE BASIN. IS OWNED BY TRIBES.
SO WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND
FORTH. YEAR AND A HALF TWO YEARS
NOW, MAYBE LONGER THAN THAT. HOW
ARE YOU GUYS? VERY DWR OR THE
WATERBOARD. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
ENFORCE? BETTER RESERVED WATER
RIGHTS SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND
FULL. HOW ARE YOU GONNA REPORT?
NOBODY CAN ANSWER THAT. RIGHT.
PUT THAT TO THIS COMMITTEE. AND
YOU GET AN ANSWER. HOW'S THE
STATE GOING TO ENFORCE WHAT IT
SAYS IN SIGMA? WHICH IS. BETTER
WHAT YEARS FEDERAL RESERVE
WATER RIGHTS HAVE TO
BE RESPECTED IN FULL
SO THAT THAT'S A QUESTION
NOBODY CAN ANSWER
SO SICK BUT IS THE IS
THAT'S REALLY THE CHALLENGE
GOING FORWARD IF WE WANTED
TO WORK TOGETHER BUT
AT THIS POINT OKAY WILL
WORK WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE STATE
ENFORCED THE LAW I WILL GIVE THE
STATE CREDIT THOUGH ONE AND
I AND TWO THOUSAND AND FOURTEEN
WITH SIGNAL WAS PASSED IT BECAME
THE FIRST STATE IN THE UNITED
STATES FROM MY KNOWLEDGE AND
UNDERSTANDING THAT RECOGNIZES
FEDERAL RESERVE WATER RIGHTS IN
LEGISLATION CALIFORNIA IS THE
FIRST ONE TO DO THAT SO THAT
WOULD THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BEG
BUT AGAIN I I'D LIKE TO HAVE
A BETTER BOB TRY TO WRAP UP
I KNOW YOU FOLKS GET TIRED
JUDICIAL BUT I WOULD LIKE
TO PURSUE AGAIN WHEN WE ASK
FOR FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR
FUNDING THE CELEBRATE WATER
AUTHORITY WHOSE FIVE TRIBES
WE PUT IN FOR A HUNDRED TEN
MILLION DOLLARS I REQUEST
FORTUNATELY IT WOULD BE
RECEIVED FIFTEEN MILLION
BUT AGAIN WHEN YOU SEE THAT
REQUEST COMING UP LEADERS
SUPPORTERS AND GET IT ALL FOR
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THE
FIGHT FIRES TO HAVE STORAGE
EVEN SOME WELLS WE DID WELLS
SO IT'S BASIC STUFF FOR ASCOT
BOARD SHOULD NOT SOME CADILLAC
THING THAT SOMEBODY WANT
YOU KNOW WE WANT TO TRY TO
WORK ON THE SCHUUR RECYCLING
OPERATION WHICH WE DON'T
HAVE GOOD OUR TRIBE RIGHT
AT THE MOUTH OF THE CENTURY
RIVER IF WE CAN RECYCLE
THAT WATER GET A BACK OTHER
PEOPLE CAN USE A DOWNSTREAM
AGAIN WHEN WHEN YOU YOUR OF
US IN OUR ASK PLEASE ASK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT THANK YOU
AGAIN THANK YOU FOR MEN
AT LASTLY WE HAVE AT
-- PERSON BELL FROM THE
CHANCE THE INDIANS AND ENDS
THIS BILL IS THE TRIBAL COUNCIL
CHAIRPERSON FOR THE PICAYUNE
RANCHERIA THE CHANCE THE
INDIANS THIS BILL GRADUATED
FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY
AND RECEIVED A JURIS DOCTOR
DEGREE FROM THE SANDRA DAY
O'CONNOR COLLEGE OF LAW IN
TWENTY TWENTY -- CURRENTLY A
LICENSED ATTORNEY THROUGH THE
STATE BAR SHE'S EXPERIENCE
WORKING FOR INVOLUNTARY FOR
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT US
DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES IN HER
LEGAL CAPACITY THIS BILL IS
ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES FOR THIS YEAR UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CRATER
CALIFORNIA CAN FRESNO COUNTY
ILLEGALLY HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON
POWER KANA MEMBERS OF THE
ASSEMBLY WATER PARKS AND
WILDLIFE COMMITTEE AND THE
HONORABLE CHAIRMAN RAMOS AND THE
SO ASSEMBLY SELECT COMMITTEE ON
NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS THANK
YOU FOR INVITING MY TRIBE TO BE
A PART OF TODAY'S INFORMATIONAL
HEARING ON ADDRESSING CALIFORNIA
TRIBAL WATER ISSUES THE
PECAN RANCHERIA THE CHECK
CHANCE INDIANS IS A FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBE LOCATED IN
COARSE GOLD CALIFORNIA IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY NEAR THE SOUTH
ENTRANCE OF U. SEVENTY NATIONAL
PARK WE INVITE ALL OF YOU
TO VISIT OUR ANCESTRAL LANDS
AND THANK CHAIRMAN RAMOS FOR
VISITING US EARLIER THIS YEAR
TODAY WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT
ELIK WHICH MEANS WATER INJURE
CHANCY IT IS RECORDED
THAT THAT YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE
HAVE LIVED ON OUR ANCESTRAL
HOMELAND SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL
FOR MILLENNIA THE CHIU CHANCY
PEOPLE LIVED IN HARMONY WITH THE
LAND AND WATER THAT'S SUPPORTED
DALY CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
LIKE FISHING TRANSPORTATION
HORTICULTURE AND CEREMONIES
IN RECENT HISTORY THE TRIBE
HAD NEARLY BECOME LANDLESS AND
LOST OUR ACCESS TO OUR WATER
OVER TIME WE HAVE BEEN
REACQUIRING OUR ANCESTRAL LAND
THROUGH PURCHASE AND THE FEE
TO TRUST PROCESS MOST RECENTLY
IN TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY
THREE ACRES OF LAND TO WHICH
OUR TRIBE IS NOW PREPARING FOR
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OTHER
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
WE DO THIS SO WE CAN TEACH OUR
CHILDREN OUR RESPECTIVE OUR LAND
HOUSE ARE PEOPLE REGAIN ACCESS
TO OUR WATER PROTECT OUR
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CARE FOR
OUR ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
OUR TRIBE BELIEVES ELECT WATER
IS LIFE THE TRIBE AIMS TO
PROTECT OUR SACRED WATER AND
LAND BY PROTECT OUR CULTURAL
RESOURCES HUMAN HEALTH AND
SAFETY INDIGENOUS ECOSYSTEMS
AND OUR ECONOMIC ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES ON OUR
TRIBAL LANDS WE CURRENTLY
HAVE TWO WATER GRANTS ONE FOR
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AND
THE OTHER FOR NON POINT SOURCE
POLLUTION THESE GRANTS MAINLY
FOCUS ON OVERLAND WATER THAT
RUNS THROUGH OUR TRIBAL LANDS
WITH THESE CLEAN WATER ACT FUNDS
THE TRIBE SAMPLES AND STUDIES
WATER QUALITY AND PERFORMS
EROSION CONTROL PROJECTS
THROUGHOUT OUR TRIBAL LANDS
HOWEVER DUE TO THE INCREASING
DROUGHT OUR SERVICE RESOURCES ON
OUR TRIBAL LANDS ARE DIMINISHING
TO A POINT WHERE SUBSTANTIAL
NUMBER OF WATER STORAGE
PONDS NO LONGER REMAIN FULL
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FURTHERMORE
DRINKING WATER IS A VITAL AND
SCARCE RESOURCE THAT IS NEEDED
TO PROTECT THE LONGEVITY OF OUR
TRIBE THIS RESOURCE BECOMES
EVER MORE IMPORTANT WHEN
FACING THE RAPID ECONOMIC AND
HOUSING EXPANSION FROM LOCAL
COMMUNITIES THE TRIBE OWNS
AND OPERATES OUR WASTE WATER
TREATMENT PLANT TO RUN OUR
POSSIBLE WATER FILTRATION
SYSTEM TO PROVIDE DRINKING WATER
THROUGHOUT OUR LAND HOWEVER
DUE TO THE LESS THAN DESIRABLE
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OUR OF OUR
LAND WE FACE ISSUES OF HIGH IRON
AND MANGANESE CONTAMINATING OVER
-- A HIGH AMOUNT OF OUR WATER
THESE CONTAMINANTS FORCE THE
TRIBE TO ALLOCATE ALREADY
LIMITED RESOURCES TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE WE HAVE ALREADY
SUSTAINED LOSS OF THE HISTORICAL
USE OF OUR WATERS AND NOW
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT AS WE
ARE FACING POSSIBLE LOSS AND
-- REDUCTIONS OF SIMPLE WATER
RESOURCES FOR WHOLE HOME USE
WE ARE AT THE TABLE IN ORDER
TO ASSERT OUR SOVEREIGN RIGHTS
AND RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR
PEOPLE FUTURE GENERATIONS AND
ANCESTRAL LANDS OUR WATER
NATURAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN
HIGHLY IMPACTED NOT ONLY BY THE
DROUGHT BUT BY THE DEVASTATING
WILDFIRES MOST RECENTLY THE
OAK FIRE THAT DESTROYED HOMES
AND LED TO THE EVACUATION OF
SOME OF OUR TRIBAL MEMBERS
THE COMBINATION OF THE CONSTANT
WILDFIRES AND WORSENING
DROUGHT CONDITIONS WARRANT
THAT ALL IMPACT TO COMMUNITIES
INCLUDING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES ARE
INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATIONS
AND DECISION MAKING PROCESSES
THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND
STATE REGULATORS ARE HAVING
ADDITIONALLY AS MY FELLOW TRIBAL
LEADERS HAVE MENTIONED THERE
ARE LEGAL COST TO FIGHTING
FOR OUR LEAGUE OUR LEGAL WATER
RIGHTS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE IS
NEEDED IN OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
AS DISCUSSIONS AROUND WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE STORAGE FUNDING
DROUGHT MITIGATION ACTIONS
AND OTHER WATER RELATED
POLICY ISSUES ARE HAPPENING
WE REQUEST THAT INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING THE STATE ACTIVELY
SUPPORTING WATER RIGHTS FOR
TRIBES WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
AID SPECIFICALLY FOR TRIBES
ASSISTANCE WITH WATER STORAGE
ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO
ASSERT OUR LIFE LEGAL RIGHTS IN
COURT AND APPOINTMENT OF TRIBAL
REPRESENTATIVES TO STATE BOARDS
DEPARTMENTS OR OTHER OVERSIGHT
AGENCIES WATER RIGHTS
INFRASTRUCTURE AID WATER STORAGE
AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE ARE TOP
PRIORITIES FOR THE TRIBE AND THE
CENTRAL VALLEY COMMUNITY AS A
WHOLE WE DEPEND ON WATER BECAUSE
WATER IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT
AND IS VITAL TO THE CONTINUED
SUCCESS AND EXISTENCE OF OUR
TRIBAL COMMUNITY MY TRIBE
STANDS READY AND IS COMMITTED TO
OUR LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE STATE TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO
OUR MOST PRESSING WATER ISSUES
FROM OUR SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENT
YOUR SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENT WE ARE
WILLING TO OFFER OUR KNOWLEDGE
RESOURCES AND TIME TO ADDRESS
THE WATER ISSUES OUR COMMUNITY
FACES AGAIN MY TYPE THANK
YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE OUR VOICE HEARD TODAY
WHICH CARRIES THANK YOU AND
I'M WILLING TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE FOR
OUR TRIBE THANK YOU CHAIRMAN
AT LOOKING TO MY COLLEAGUES ANY
QUESTIONS MISTER SMITH
ACTUALLY A WHOLE LOT OF WE'RE
GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS FOR
A LITTLE BIT I WANT TO THANK
BOTH CHAIRMEN ARE WORKING
HAND IN THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ALMOST FOR PUT THIS TOGETHER
HIGHLY ENLIGHTENING AND
EDUCATIONAL BUT THROUGH ALL
OF THE DISCUSSION THE BIGGEST
THING IS THIS GOVERNMENT HAS
FAILED YOU AND ALL OF THE
SERVICES OF CALIFORNIA IS
WATER STORAGE IS WHAT WE'VE
NOT DONE AND WE'VE GROWN UP
POPULATION SINCE NINETEEN
SEVENTY NINE WE'VE DOUBLED WE
AS THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY NEED
TO BE MORE ASSERTIVE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE GET WATER STORAGE
IF YOU MIGHT NOT WORK KLAMATH
RIVER GOING TO KEEP IT FLOWING
BUT WE NEED WATER STORAGE IN
THE STATE TO REPRESENT ALL OF
US AND YOU HAVE YOUR SOVEREIGN
LAND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE
NEAT BOWS IN THE E. I. OURS
AND ALL THESE OTHER STATE
REGULATIONS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SAY I WANT STORAGE AND I'M
GOING TO PUT IT RIGHT THERE
AND I'M GONNA START NEXT WEEK
I'M VERY PROUD ACTUALLY
THE ONES THAT EDUCATIONAL YOU
HAVE TO GO BECOME AN ATTORNEY
YOURSELF TO REPRESENT YOUR GROUP
TRIBAL MEMBERS YOU CAN'T AFFORD
WATER RIGHTS OF ATTORNEYS
THEY'VE BEEN LIVING OFF
THE SYSTEM FOR DECADES AND
DECADES I'VE BEEN OUTSIDE ON
A WATER BOARD AND OUR ATTORNEY
FAMILIES HE HAD A DAUGHTER AND
A SON THEY BOTH BECAME ATTORNEYS
FOR THE WATER INDUSTRY IS IS
SO LUCRATIVE EVERY TIME YOU
DO SOMETHING EVERYBODY SUING
EVERYBODY WE'VE HAD
A HUNDRED BILLION DOLLAR
RESERVE IN THE STATE NOT ONE
DOLLAR HAS BEEN SPENT FOR WATER
STORAGE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN THE
WATER BOND WHERE IS ALL THAT
MONEY FOR THE STATE ORDER YOUR
SOVEREIGN NATION AND FOR THE
STATE REPRESENTATIVES HERE I
WANT TO NOT TAKE MUCH TIME THANK
YOU AGAIN I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUES THE FIGHT WE CAN
MAKE SURE THAT WERE HOLDING
THE STATE AND YOU GET BALLOT
WHICH CHAIRPERSON EASTERN
NINE WRITER RICHARD BESSER
STATEMENT I PROPOSED TO
SEVERAL AGENCIES SEVERAL GROUPS
ARE WHY DO WE NOT LOOK AT
BUILDING STORAGE FACILITIES ON
RESERVATIONS THAT MAY BE
HAVE THE THE TERRAIN TO BUILD
ONE THIS WOULD BE A JOINT
VENTURE BUT IT WOULD BE IT'S
FINE TO TRY THAT WOULD BE
INTERESTED FIND AN AREA THAT
WOULD BE INTERESTED THE STATE
DOWNWARD AFTER WE DEVELOP THE
AGREEMENT OBVIOUSLY DEVELOP INTO
A JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT OR ALL
STATE DAM DESIGN STANDARDS
AND ALL PRECAUTIONS WOULD BE
DONE IN TERMS OF THE DESIGN
ITSELF BY THE STATE AFTER
THAT WAS ALL DONE THEN IT BE
TURNED OVER TO THE TRIBE
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AS WE
ALL KNOW SEEK WAS WHAT KILLS
ALL LIST UP THEY DID COME
UNDER TRIBAL LAW IN TERMS OF
ENVIRONMENTAL THAT'S WHERE
YOU CAN GET SOME STORAGE BUILT
THANK YOU CHAIRMAN
MISTER SMITH THAT'S ALL I JUST
WANT TO STRESS MY POINT THAT
WE ALL COLLECTIVELY NEED TO
START PUSHING FOR WATER STORAGE
IN THE STATE IS ADMINISTRATION
AND PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS
WE HAVEN'T BUILT ANY WATER
STORAGE IN OVER FIFTY YEARS
I'M REALLY SADDENED AND UP GO
HEAD TO KEEP ON A TANGENT I'M
REALLY SAID IT TAKES JUST SIXTY
YEARS THE GET THINGS THROUGH
THE COURT AND THAT'S WHERE
SAID THE ATTORNEYS KEEP SUING
EACH OTHER BACK AND FORTH AND
-- ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THEY
FILE A LAWSUIT JUST A PRO LONG
THE SITUATION YOU SHOULD BE
ABLE TO LIKE YOU SAID WATER
STORIES ON RIGHT FROM MY
SOVEREIGN LAKE LAND AND BUILD IT
AND THEN WHEN THEY NEED THE
WATER YOU HAVE TO BE MAILED TO
MAKE MILLIONS OFF GIVEN BACK
TO LOOK FOR TO WORK WITH ALL
THE TO HAVE A GREAT DAY IN A
THANK YOU MISTER MATHIS
THANK YOU I WASN'T SURE IF WE
WERE IN A CLOSE HERE NOT LET
AGAIN CHAIRMAN CHAIRWOMAN IT'S
THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT I THINK
HOPEFULLY MY MY COLLEAGUES THAT
ARE REMAINING HERE IN THE THOSE
THAT HAVE LEFT IN THOSE THAT
ARE LISTENING I I HOPE THAT
AND PRAY THAT THEIR HEARTS AND
MINDS ARE OPEN THAT THEY REALIZE
THAT THE STATE CONTINUING
THIS POLICY THIS MINDSET
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ESSENTIALLY
STEAL YOUR SOVEREIGNTY FOR
EVERY LITTLE THING TO WORK
WITH THEM THAT THAT'S NOT
RIGHT IN WE WE'VE HEARD
TODAY THAT THE STATE VIEWS
TRIBES LIKE THEIR COUNTY LIKE A
SUBSIDIARY AND THAT'S NOT OK
BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE SOLVER
IT NEEDS TO BE A PARTNERSHIP
IN AN AGREED UPON WHERE
THOSE RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED
BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
THIRD WORLD CONDITIONS
ON OUR TRAVEL AS I'VE LIVED
THROUGH THIRD WORLD VOTE
THE COMBAT SCARS TO PROVE IT
THE FACT THAT WE SEE THAT HERE
AT HOME HERE IN CALIFORNIA
AND ON OUR TRIBES IN THAT
BECAUSE THE STATE IS TRYING
TO STILL SOVEREIGNTY IN
THE TREASURY FUSING TO GIVE
IT UP WHICH THEY SHOULD
THE STAGE FORCING YOU ALL TO
LIVE LIKE THIS THAT IS NOT
OKAY AND I HOPE
NOT AT ALL HOPE
WE'RE GONNA CHANGE IT
BUT WHETHER IT'S WHILE I'M IN
OFFICE WHEN I GET OUT OFFICE
WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE
IT BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF SEEING
OUR PEOPLE LIVE LIKE THIS IS
NOT OKAY IT MUST CHANGE
-- JUST JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS
I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME
PROGRESS -- AND HAVING THE
STATE INTERVENE ON MANY OF THESE
TRIBAL ISSUES I THINK EXAMPLES
WERE GIVEN JUST RECENTLY RIGHT
ON PIECES OF LEGISLATION SOME
POTENTIAL FUNDING REQUEST
AND I THINK GOD NOW IT WE ARE
IN THE PERFECT -- TIME GIVEN
THE BUDGETARY CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT EXIST THE LOOK AT THE
BROADER PICTURE OF CALIFORNIA'S
WATER NEEDS AND INTEGRATE THE
-- TRIBAL RESERVATION WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES
TO BUILD AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE A SUSTAINABLE WATER
A PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA MANY TRIBES ARE
LOCATED IN AREAS WHERE THERE
ARE SIGNIFICANT THEM DANGERS
OF FIRES -- IT MAKES TOTAL
SENSE FOR US TO INVEST IN THOSE
AREAS AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY
WITH THE AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF
THE RESERVATION A TO PROTECT
THESE REGIONS OF THE STATE AND
THAT THAT'S KIND OF ONE ONE
APPROACH -- THERE ARE AREAS
WHERE SAFE CLEAN DRINKING
WATER ISN'T AVAILABLE NOT JUST
FOR THE RESERVATION BEFORE
THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
AS WELL AND PUTTING IN THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE IN COLLABORATION
BRINGS THAT BENEFIT TO THAT
REGION OF THE STATE AND SO --
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS
UNDER WAY AS IT RELATES TO THE
WATER PACKAGES -- THAT WILL
BE FINALIZED IN THE BUDGET IN
ITS RIGHT NOW I THINK THAT WE
CAN MAKE A FINAL FULL COURT
PRESS TO SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE
WATER SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA THAT
INTEGRATES -- INDIAN COUNTRY
AND SO I WOULD -- JUST MAYBE
SUGGEST THAT THAT WHETHER BE
THE BUDGET ASKS IDENTIFYING
THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION
THAT WE GIVE A ONE MORE PUSH
AND TRY TO SIGN ON ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS OF OUR CAUCUS IS ON OUR
COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE THAT
YEAH WE WE WE DID EVERYTHING
THAT WE COULD AT LEAST ON THIS
LEGISLATIVE SESSION I GIVEN
THAT WE'VE GOT TWO PLUS
THREE WEEKS LEFT OUT TO TRY
TO FINANCE THESE INVESTMENTS
AND PASS THESE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALSO
POSITION -- TRIBAL NATIONS TO
RECEIVE OTHER FINDINGS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO THE STATE WANT TO
THANK BOTH CHAIRS FOR CARRYING
OUT THIS -- CONVERSATION AND
-- WE'VE GOT SOME WORK TO
DO SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE
CHAIRS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE
REPRESENTATIVES THAT ARE HERE
WELL THANK YOU THANK YOU TWO
OF THE CHILDREN OF OUR K. HONDA
THE COMMITTEE -- OF PUTTING
THIS TOGETHER IN HEARING --
THE TIME THAT'S THAT'S BEEN A
LOT IT HERE FOR THIS HEARING
AND HEARING THE DIFFERENT VOICES
FROM THROUGHOUT INDIAN COUNTRY
HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
I'M THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT
REGIONS IN THIS PANEL THAT WE
CHOSEN TO END WITH -- REP
REPRESENTS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
WITH THE CHAIRMAN JERRY CENTRO
WITH THE JEFFERSONVILLE AND
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH
CHAIRPERSON JOE JAMES WHO
ALLUDED TO THE HEAVINESS OF
EVEN TRAVELING DOWN BECAUSE OF
THINGS THAT ARE STILL HAPPENING
WITHIN THE PEOPLE EUROPE PEOPLE
UP NORTH WHICH WE ALLUDED TO
AS FAR AS THE FIRES -- COMING
THROUGH IN KILLING THE FISH
AND IT'S NOT JUST KILLING THE
FISH FOR NOW IT'S ACTUALLY
SUSTAINING THE LIFE OF THE FISH
AND THE CULTURAL CEREMONIES THE
NEXT SEASON -- AND AND THAT'S
WHAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT IT'S
A DRASTIC AFFECT NOT JUST TODAY
BUT FOR THIS NEXT SEASON IN
THE FOLLOWING SEASON WHEN THOSE
THINGS START TO HAPPEN AND SO
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
CONTINUES TO BE SOMETHING THAT
RESONATES I KNOW THAT WE WE
HEARD FROM ANICETO THAT TALKED
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT BOARDS THAT
WERE THERE AND SET ASIDE SOME
WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT WHEN
WE'RE DEVELOPING BOARDS IT DEAL
WITH WITH WATER IN PARTICULAR
AND ALL DIFFERENT ISSUES --
ALSO THE FOODS THE FOODS THAT
THAT CEREMONIES CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OF IF
CEREMONY STOP OUR CULTURE RIGHT
OUR CULTURE HAS TO CONTINUE
LEVINE IS BEEN RESILIENT TO GO
THROUGH THESE THINGS WE'VE ALSO
HEARD OF THE LACK OF WATER IT'S
STILL AFFECTING CALIFORNIA'S
FIRST PEOPLE WHERE THEY HAVE
TO GO TO BOTTLED WATER HOW
MANY LEGISLATORS ON THIS DIRE
SUR EVEN HEARING THIS EVEN
KNEW THAT WAS TAKING PLACE
BUT OF THAT TOOK PLACE IN ANY
OTHER COMMUNITY IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA THERE WOULD BE
RESOURCE IS GOING THAT WAY SO
NOW WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE HEAR THAT AND MAKE SURE
THAT THAT WE'RE DOING OUR PART
TO GET THOSE RESOURCES THERE
AND WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH
THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT AND WHEN
YOU WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH
THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT ON THESE
THINGS DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY
BRING UP A WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN
IMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN THE STATE
AND THE NATION'S WAY TO DEAL
WITH WITH TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
YOU WAVE YOUR SOVEREIGNTY AND
IT WILL COME AND HELP THAT'S
THAT THAT SHOULDN'T BE TOLERATED
ANYMORE AND WE HEARD FROM THE
TO WOLLEMI THAT IT TOOK THIS
TIME MUCH TIME TO GO FROM A
TWO INCH LINE TWO EIGHT INCH
LINE BUT IT SADLY TO SAY THAT
EVEN GOING TO THAT EIGHT INCH
LINE IT'S ALREADY OUTDATED
AND THEN YOU TALK ABOUT AGING
WATER STRUCTURES WELL WE PUT
MONEY IN BUDGET TO HELP OTHER
AGENCIES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA WITH FAILING WATER
SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE FURTHER
COMMUNITIES WHY ARE WE DOING
THE SAME FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
AND CALIFORNIA'S FIRST PEOPLE
THE DAY HERE IT TOOK SIXTY
YEARS OF LITIGATION AND ACT OF
CONGRESS TO BRING BACK
TO THE TRIBE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
ABOVE A TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
WATER RIGHTS AND SHARES THAT
THEY STILL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE
WITH DIFFERENT WATER AGENCIES
EVEN TO THIS DAY THESE ARE
ISSUES THAT THIS COMMITTEE
PUT TOGETHER WITH A DIFFERENT
SPEAKERS AND I DID CHOOSE TO END
WITH THIS PARTICULAR -- PANEL
WHICHEVER JAMES JEFFERSONVILLE
AND CHAIR CHAIRMAN BO MAZZETTI
WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL
IN LEADING THE CHARGE AND
DISCUSSION AROUND WATER ISSUES
SO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT RESONATES BECAUSE RIGHT
HERE AS WE'RE GOING AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO FROM
WHAT WE'VE HEARD BUT THAT
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CENTRAL
AND NORTHERN ALL COMING TO
THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN SAINT
WATER IS A TOP PRIORITY
FOR CALIFORNIA'S FIRST PEOPLE
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING INTO THE
CHAIRS THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO COME FORWARD AND PRESENT
ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC AND
AS WE GO TO -- PUBLIC COMMENT
I'M I'VE BEEN ASKED TO OPEN
IT UP IF THERE'S OTHER TRIBAL
LEADERS THAT ARE HERE THAT WANT
TO SPEAK THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE
TO GO FIRST WHEN WE START PUBLIC
COMMENT IS THAT OKAY MANAGER
YES IF THERE'S ANYONE IN
THE ROOM HAD LIKE TO START
OFF PUBLIC COMMENT WE CAN DO
THAT BUT BEFORE WE DO I JUST
WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
AM CHAIRMAN RAMOS WHO --
HAD THE INSIGHT AND FORTITUDE
AND STRENGTH TO START THE AKIS
FOCUSED ON NATIVE AMERICAN
AFFAIRS AND THE SELECT COMMITTEE
BOTH OF WHICH HAVE BROUGHT
THESE ISSUES TOP OF MIND AND I
WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE TRIBAL
LEADERS THEY CAME TODAY TO SPEAK
WITH US -- I THINK AS CHAIRMAN
MAZZETTI POINTED OUT THERE ARE
WAYS FOR US TO WORK WITH SISTER
GOVERNMENTS WE DO IT ALL THE
TIME WHETHER IT BE OTHER STATES
OTHER COUNTRIES AND FOR SURE OUR
TRIBAL NATIONS AND THAT ALLOWS
US TO WORK IN COLLABORATION FOR
MUTUAL BENEFIT AS ASSEMBLYMEMBER
GARCIA'S SO BEAUTIFULLY
HIGHLIGHTED AND AS A MOM
HEARING ALL OF YOU TALK ABOUT
KIDS NOT BEING ABLE TO BATHE
OR DRINK THE WATER IT REALLY
HITS HOME I CAN'T IMAGINE
-- LIVING DAY IN AND DAY
OUT AND HAVING TO COME TO US
AND EVEN ASK FOR HELP IT SHOULD
BE GIVEN WITHOUT ASKING BUT I
DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE
TO -- HELP ENLIGHTEN US AND
GIVE US THE TOOLS TO BE BETTER
BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO BETTER
MOVING FORWARD SO THAT ANYONE
IN THE ROOM LIKE TO START
US OFF WITH PUBLIC COMMENT
HEY DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IT
SO WE WILL GO TO THE PHONE
LINES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
MODERATOR ARE YOU THERE
I AM THANK YOU
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO OUR MAKE PUBLIC
COMMENT AT THIS TIME PLEASE
PRESS ONE FOLLOWED BY ZERO
IN EIGHTEEN T. APPLE YOU WILL
QUICKLY GIVE YOUR LINE NUMBER
OFF LINE IN PLACE YOU RIGHT
BACK INTO THE QUEUE SO AGAIN
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE
PRESS ONE ZERO AT THIS TIME
THANK YOU ONE MOMENT PLEASE
WE'LL GET ANOTHER REMINDER
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS
TIME PLEASE PRESS ONE ZERO
MADAM CHAIR NOBODY IS KILLING
US OKAY WITH THAT WE WILL
ADJOURN THIS HEARING AND LOOK
FORWARD TO FUTURE COLLABORATION
WILL YOU CHOOSE A GERMAN